To promote and generate awareness for digital payments for citizens Maharashtra government organised Digi Dhan Mela in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Headed by NITI Aayog and the department of electronics and IT, the programme promotes to encourage consumers and merchants to shift to these payment modes under the existing central schemes -Lucky Grahak Yojana for Consumers and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana for Merchants.

As many as 60 stalls of Aadhaar enabled payment system (AEPS) vendors, merchants associations, Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra operators, fair price shop owners, small vendors, self-help groups from MSRLM, NPCI, UIDAI, banks, e-wallet, telecom and transportation (auto/car) network companies etc.

Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra operators, fair price shop owners, auto-taxi operators from Mumbai, Thane and Raigad were given training for digital payments. Citizens were assisted for opening their bank accounts, linking mobile number to bank account, Aadhaar enrolment, Aadhaar updates, seeding Aadhaar number with bank account number etc.

M Sankaranarayanan, director, IT, Maharashtra government said, “Every citizen can adopt digital payment systems proactively without any new investment or expenditure. With various options available, merchants only have to pay minimum amount to banks for machines or can Aadhaar enable their android phones or can do it through newly launched BEAMS without any additional cost. The government is giving machines to fair price shops without any charge. It is a transaction based model where if they sell one quintal they will get a commission. So it is a win-win deal for everyone.”

Speaking on the side lines of the event, Avinash Subhedar, controller of rationing and director of civil supplies said, “Two ration shops each from all five regions of Mumbai Metropolitan region will be trained to go cashless this week. The ration card holder will be identified by his thumb impression, if the thumb impression does not match, he will not be given ration. Rationing shops will act like banking business correspondents and will be given some commissions on every transaction. Govt has identified Axis Bank, Yes Bank and IDFC Bank for digital rationing transactions.”

Vishal Yadav, RTO inspector from Wadala RTO said, “A new software for digital transaction Sarathi 4.0 is being launched on January 5. With this, all work will become digital. Unlike passport office, work at RTO happens at ground level, so it might be a little uncomfortable for them to initially understand the systems. But all auto and taxi drivers will inevitably go digital as this will be a requirement when they come to RTO once a year for renewing fitness certification of their vehicles.”