Assam govt giving top priority to spreading digital awareness

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said the state government is taking all measures to make people aware about digital banking by giving it top priority.
In the wake of demonetisation it has become imperative for all citizens to reduce cash transactions to discourage accumulation of black money, he told the state-level Digital Banking Awareness Programme organised by State Bank of India.
Digital literacy was required to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of a cashless society, he said, adding the government has taken the decision to organise a 15-day-long Digital Literacy Campaign for National Service Scheme cadets of 180 colleges across the state in partnership with SBI.

NSS volunteers have a big role to play in this endeavour to educate the masses about various benefits of digital banking, he said.
Sonowal said apart from NSS volunteers, nearly 28,000 panchayat-level representatives should be included in this campaign to sensitise people about digital banking system so that awareness about cashless transactions can trickle down to grassroots level.
All district headquarters will be covered by the campaign in the first week and the second week will cover all other uncovered centres.

"All sections of the society have supported the demonetisation drive of the government wholeheartedly and only some people with vested interest are trying to derail the drive as they are unable to save their ill-gotten money," the Chief Minister said.

Sonowal said the 'Assam Model' has been appreciated across the country for swift implementation in opening of bank accounts for payment of wage to tea garden workers in their bank accounts and also for handling the demonetisation process deftly.
The goal of making people in rural areas aware about digital banking will be achieved in Assam before other states, he said.