Govt plans chaupals to link weaker sections to cashless system

Weaker sections are the "most affected" by the "cancer of corruption" and the government will organise chaupals to connect minority communities to the cashless economic system, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said.
Despite the Centre and states spending a large amount of money for empowering Muslims, the community remained backward because middlemen looted the funds meant for its welfare, he said at an event here.
He said that by scrapping high-value notes, the Prime Minister has ensured that "this loot is stopped and the funds reached people through direct benefit transfer (DBT)".
"The Ministry of Minority Affairs will organise 'cashless chaupal' at large scale to connect minority communities to the cashless economic system. We will create awareness about benefits of cashless economy, digital payment, online and net banking among community members," a statement quoted Naqvi as saying.

The minister said digital transactions will turn out be a "strong campaign against corruption and black money", and urged Muslims to join the movement.
He said benefits of about 78 welfare schemes of 17 ministries, including gas subsidy and MGNREGA, are being sent directly to bank accounts of beneficiaries through the digital system.

"Direct Benefit Transfer helped save public money worth more than Rs 36,000 crore. Online auction of coal, spectrum, mines have resulted into more than Rs 3 lakh crore coming to government coffers.
"The Ministry of Minority Affairs has given scholarships worth about Rs 6,715 crore to Rs 3 crore students into their bank accounts," he said.

Naqvi said there are several questions relating to the
minority communities which neither the Commissions nor the Minority Affairs Ministry can give answer to.
"There is a big question: why there is atmosphere of fear? There is government, our country is world's largest democratic system. There are at least 10-12 elections, in states or local bodies, where people decide on performance of the government.
"The accountability (of governments) is being decided in every six months now by states. Hence, political establishment has to remain alert and work with honesty," he said.
Stating there is always a lot of talk about about rights of minorities, Naqvi insisted that no government or party can harm constitutional rights of the communities which, he said, is a matter of pride.

The minister asked NCM and state minority commissions to monitor implementation of initiatives taken by the Centre for the welfare of minority communities even as they discharge their primary duties.
He also pitched for working for empowerment of minorities without appeasement.
"Harmony is password of development. It should not be let hacked. The forces which are trying to hurt harmony, those should be isolated. We need to strengthen the unity of the country," he said.
According to a statement issued by the Minister later, he also listed schemes the Union Ministry has come out with for the minorities.
Stating the Ministry has become 100 per cent digital in its transactions, he made mention of the mobile application it has launched for Haj pilgrims to apply online.

"We have received 50,000 applications on the mobile app within three days of its launch," he added.