RANGIYA, June 22 - Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of State for Finance, today inaugurated a Digi-Dhan Mela as part of the ceremony to adopt Chapania as a digital village at the Chapania Tarun Sangha premises here in the presence of a huge gathering.
The adoption of Chapania as a digital village by the State Level Bankers� Committee (SLBC) to promote financial literacy among the masses is a welcome initiative, Gangwar said. Generation of financial awareness through digital and other media at Chapania village in Rangiya will help in the extension of the initiative to other places. Such a movement for digital access gives a boost to the cause of cashless economy espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the country, especially NE region in general and Assam in particular, the Union minister added.
Gangwar highlighted the salient features of the digital India campaign under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and stated that nearly 29 crore beneficiaries have opened Jan Dhan accounts with zero balance so far. In Assam alone, 1.25 crore such accounts have already been opened, he added. Thousands of people have been educated on the use of POS machines, RuPay cards, BHIM app, etc., providing a big thrust to the digitalization of the economy, the minister said.
�We should promote cashless and paperless modes of transaction so that every citizen becomes digital-friendly,� Gangwar said, adding that the Centre has launched insurance schemes at very nominal costs per annum for common people of the country.
Mangaldai MP Ramen Deka spoke on the need of a digital and cashless economy for the healthy growth of the country. Local MLA Bhabesh Kalita and Joint Commissioner, Finance, Government of Assam, G Pegu advocated the need of digitalization from the grassroot level.
Earlier, the CGM of SBI, NE region, PSLVN Murthy, welcomed the dignitaries and spoke on the initiatives under the SBI in Assam and the NE region as a whole. Om Prakash Mishra, GM, SBI, Yogesh Chandra Sahoo, GM, Gautam Roy Choudhury, AGM, SBI, and other bank officials were also present on the occasion.
Nearly 16 stalls set up by various nationalised banks, including UCO, UBI, AGVB, SBI, Axis, IndusInd, Central Bank of India, HDFC, etc., displayed information on various tools of digital economy, their use and necessary assistance from banks. Beneficiaries of MUDRA loan facilities under the SBI and other banks received sanction letters at the end of the function.
