Govt aims to provide banking services in every village

The government is looking at providing banking services in every village of the country by leveraging technology and the network of Common Services Centres (CSCs).

The withdrawal facility has already been introduced at CSCs whereas opening of accounts is being worked out with the banks and is likely to be rolled out shortly.

"Our target is to create banking access point in every village through new technology," Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said during a conference of women village level entrepreneurs (VLEs) under CSCs.

The minister said commission earned by VLEs on pancards, passport and rail ticketing stands at Rs 438 crore.

"VLEs have a major role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of startup revolution in India. CSCs play important role in interface between the government and the beneficiaries, thus reducing corruption and delays," Prasad said.

The minister asked the officials to help CSCs take a lead role in spreading e-commerce in rural India. CSCs should also play a major role in promoting local handicrafts and artisans, he said.

Prasad also instructed the Department of Telecom (DoT) that CSCs should get connectivity on priority basis under Bharat Net Programme which aims to connect all the gram panchayats.

About digital literacy, Prasad said in less than one year 39 lakh people have been made digitally literate.

He also announced that the VLE, which helps make entire gram panchayat digitally literate, will be sent to Singapore this year and then Silicon Valley to show how India is changing.

He also said women have played a crucial role as change agents under the Digital India Programme and women VLEs have made a promising contribution to the success of e-governance services and digital empowerment schemes among the poor and marginalised communities through CSCs.