In a quest to take Jharkhand on the top of the list of States in encouraging and implementing cashless transactions, Chief Minister Raghubar Das launched ‘Cashless Jharkhand’ campaign from Nagri block of Ranchi district today. Coming down heavily on those opposing demonetisation, the CM made it clear that the Government was there only to move forward to make Jharkhand a cashless state before anyone else does so.
With this launch, Nagri is all set to become the first block in Jharkhand to go cashless. The block has already been in limelight with one ITI campus, one large food processing unit by Mother Dairy and many other industrial units to come up soon apart from the new High Court building and Assembly building under construction. After this, the CM looked up cashless machines of BOI, Gramin Bank, Canara Bank and Nagri Petrol pump on the spot on the day.
Das said that the move to make Jharkhand cashless would help the state get rid of black money, corruption and middlemen. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of cashless India and cashless Jharkhand will be implemented in Jharkhand with utter dedication. He added that Rs. 5 lakh cr. deposited in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) after demonetization will be used for various welfare funds for the poor and underprivileged, as directed by the Prime Minister.
Notably, he has already announced exemption of Value Added Tax (VAT) on mobile handsets up to worth Rs. 5,000 in the state, so that those with no Smartphone in their pocket yet could possess one soon.
“Poor families will be provided 35 kg packed food grain from financial year 2017-18. It will be provisioned in the next budget. Poor youths will be trained and employed in making these sacks. Five State Government departments will be made cashless this year and by the end of next year, all departments will be made paperless,” announced the CM, directing officials to get back to the job of making this true with all seriousness.
Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi, MlAs Ram Kumar Pahan, Jitu Charan Ram and Gangotri Kujur, Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Amit Khare, Principal Secretary to the CM Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary, Forest, Sukhdev Singh, Rural Development Principal Secretary NN Sinha, State Bank of India (SBI) Senior GM (Bihar and Jharkhand) Ajit Sood, Senior GM Bank of India (BoI) Sudipto Mukherjee, State level Banker’s Committee (SlBC) Prasad Joshi, Ranchi DC Manoj Kumar, officials of Nagri block and hundreds of locals and villagers were present on this occasion.
Das said that everyone should endeavor for a cashless state. Referring it to be a historic day, he said, “21st century will be the century of India.
IT plays an important role in it. After coming in power, the government initiated for digital Jharkhand. As a result, BPl families are given food grain through POS. With implementation of this system, the state is benefitted with Rs. 700 cr. which will be used for poor people.”
He said that initially it might have some difficulties but later it will be much fruitful. “Demonetization has subdued Pakistan and pelting stones has stopped in Jammu and Kashmir. Extremism will be reined with demonetization. The government will train officers and staff for cashless transactions,” said Das.
At the same time, the CS asked banks to accelerate new branch opening exercise, as many found their targets of opening assigned number of branches in rural areas. “It is one of the most positive steps towards the development of the state, country and society as a whole to eliminate black money and corruption of country. Banks need to increase number of Bank Mitras and provide debit and credit cards to all account holders in rural areas,” the CS said.
Sood said, at the occasion, that SBI had been providing a facility called M-Cash. “If one forgets account number of the beneficiary, he can use beneficiary’s mobile number through M-Cash for fund transfer,” Sood said.