GETTING INTO THE MODE
* All govt departments directed to follow cashless method for making payments to labourers from December onwards
* Labour class to be imparted training in accepting and making payments through the cashless mode
* All outlets like liquor shops which come under purview of Excise and Commercial Taxes Dept will have to go cashless
* The State Finance Department is likely to issue orders next week to this effect
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TRAINING VENDORS, OTHERS
* From Monday, bankers and govt officials will interact with various associations of vendors, rickshaw owners and motorcycle pilots
* They will either provide them with POS equipment or train them on using the unified payment interface launched by central government
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The State government has set the ball rolling for making Goa a model state with cashless economy. All departments which make direct payments in cash to the labour class have been directed to follow the cashless payment mode from December onwards. Additionally, all outlets which come under the Excise and Commercial Departments will also go cashless.
These decisions were taken at a meeting convened by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar with officials of nationalised banks, Goa State Co-operative Bank, and various government departments on Monday at the IT Hub, Altinho. Also present were Panaji MLA Sidharth Kuncalienkar, Chief Secretary RK Srivastava and Special Secretary to Chief Minister Ameya Abhyankar.
Speaking to 'The Goan Everyday' after the meeting, Panaji MLA Sidharth Kuncalienkar informed, “This was an important meeting towards making Goa a model state with cashless economy. Presently, Goa which has a population of about 15 lakh, has over 22 lakh bank accounts and 17 lakh mobile connections. With this scenario, we are certain that Goa can definitely become a model state with cashless economy in the days to come.”
The government departments will be directed to initiate steps in achieving the objective of cashless economy. In the first phase, all departments like Public Works Department (PWD), Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), Labour Department, directly connected with labour payments have been directed to follow cashless methods of payment from December onwards. Additionally, it has been decided to impart training to the labour class on how to accept payment through cashless mode and also to make cashless transactions in their day-to-day life for buying essential commodities.
Additionally, all outlets like liquor shops and hotels which come under the purview of Excise and Commercial Taxes Department will have to go cashless. The State Finance Department is likely to issue orders next week with regard to the same.
“To make this work, the State Government will also seek assistance from bankers. From Monday onwards, bankers and government officials will interact with various associations of vendors, rickshaw owners and motorcycle pilots, among others and either provide them with point of sale (POS) equipment to accept credit and debit cards or else train them on using the unified payment interface which the central government has launched,” said Kuncalienkar.
He also opined that the Digital Youth Initiative Scheme which the State Cabinet has approved on Friday will also be beneficial towards making Goa a cashless economy.
When asked about POS equipment requirement of the State, he said, “As per the information available, private banks nationwide have nearly 1 lakh machines in stock, whereas nationalised banks have about 60,000, some of which will be provided to the State.”
Meanwhile, Panaji has begun with awareness meeting to go cashless. Panaji MLA, officials of various banks including State Bank of India, Bank of India, Axis Bank, HDFC had meeting with members of the Panaji market association.
“The market traders were informed about steps to be initiated towards cashless economy. They also had various queries like the amount of commission which will be charged per transaction. If they use the unified payment interface it would be merely 50 paise per transaction of any amount”, informed Kuncalienkar.
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Viva! New Rs 500 notes in Goa
People in Goa can heave a sigh of relief as new Rs 500 currency notes have been introduced in the state. However, only a few banks dispensed these notes.
Sources said that the circulation of the new Rs 500 currency notes is set to increase soon, which will help people as they have been running from pillar to post to get change ever since demonetisation was announced on November 8.
In the last 18 days since demonetisation, people are left with only Rs 2,000 note and Rs 100 note as old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were declared as illegal tender.
Due to this, it has become very tough to do day-to-day chores like buying groceries, refueling at petrol-pumps, paying domestic helps & drivers and etc.
Although new Rs 500 note has hit Panaji, but still, not many people have got it either from an ATM or from a bank. However, the expectations are that the situation will get better this week.
Meanwhile, people are still allowed to use old Rs 500 notes for certain essential services, including petrol-pumps till December 15th. Given that, the new Rs 500 notes should further add to the liquidity in the market.
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Notes scrapped on RBI
recommendations: Govt
* Law and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the decision to scrap Rs 500/1000 notes was taken by the government on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank of India
* It is not demonetisation. It is a wrong expression. Our government has only taken decision upon recommendation of Reserve bank of India, said the Minister
* He listed out steps taken by the NDA government to deal with menace of unaccounted money at an event of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry
