Goa has been chosen to be developed as a model state for evolving into a cashless economy by December 31, 2016, informed Chief Secretary, R K Srivastava in a special briefing held on Wednesday.
During the meeting at the Secretariat in Porvorim, he addressed heads of various government departments, government corporations, autonomous bodies, government secretaries and bank officials.
“The number of bank accounts in Goa is far more than that of the population in the state, so Goa can become a model state for others in this regard,” said Srivastava.
Ameya Abhyankar, who was also present at the briefing, said, “There are three tracks on which the Goa Government in association with banks will be going forward with. These are: a) vendors carrying out financial transactions to be brought under the e-payment mode, b) consumer education and, c) bringing government departments, which are in receipt of revenue or disbursing sums to stakeholders or beneficiaries, under the e-platform. For that, government departments will have to map these sets of transactions that are carried out in their departments and will have to ensure that they are carried out as per the e-payment mode.”
For the purpose, each department will have to frame an action plan where they will have to carry departmental surveys and map transactions. To create awareness, training workshops will also be held in various government departments.
Abhyankar also spoke of how surveys of vendors in markets in Goa were being conducted. “Information kiosks will also be put up at these places where the public can be made aware of how to enter into a cashless transaction when making purchases. Banks need to come up with effective communication strategies to educate people and one powerful medium is through social media,” he added.
Meanwhilea meeting was also held at North Goa Collectorate Office whereby the Mamlatdar and Joint Mamlatdars of North Goa were asked by bank officials to organise special camps to facilitate people to open bank accounts the Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. This can enable customers to undertake electronic transactions.
North Goa Collector, Agnelo Fernandes; Assistant General Manager of SBI, Pawar; Dy Collector Sheru Shirodkar; Lead District Manager, Prakash Kamble and other officials explained various methods to implement the Cashless Goa initiative.
