It helps in having direct access to people: Raje

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today said information technology helps the government to have direct access to people and plug loopholes that might prevent them from getting their due.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of Rajasthan Digifest 2018 here, she said those people who have created new startups are going to change the "history, geography and movement forward" of the state.

While emphasising the importance of information technology, the chief minister said it brings youngsters fully in touch with the government and its activities as well as allows the government to access people directly and plug loopholes that might prevent them from getting their due.

"Leadership is not something that you define. Leadership is what these youngsters are going to make it and I believe in this new age... I believe that those people who have actually sat down and created those new startups are the beginning of that definition," Raje said.

The Digifest, which started on March 18, concluded today.

According to Raje, people used to come to India because they said they have to go to the state to see the forts and palaces that have left a stamp on history.

"But today I can say that Rajasthan is not just about history but also about the new technology that is happening," she noted.

The chief minister also talked about the importance of Bhamashah -- the first direct benefit transfer scheme in India.

"A woman in charge of her family... the bank account in her name and then her family's name, over 5.5 crore people attached to those (Bhamashah) cards, approximately 1.5 crore families working with that card... it is a huge thing," Raje said.

Under the Bhamashah scheme, the eldest lady of the house is officially declared the head of the family and all the benefits are transferred to the bank account in her name only.