In an attempt to digitally enable and sensitize merchants and retailers, a Digital Payment Mela cum seminar in Smart City Imphal for Telecom Retailers was held under the aegis of Ministry of Communication, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India at the Mini Conference Hall of City Convention Centre in Imphal on Tuesday.
Principal Controller of Communication Accounts (CCA) Eastern Region, Kolkata, G K Chin along with G G Shabong, CCA Shillong, besides general manager J Lunkim of BSNL attended the inaugural session of the mela cum seminar.
Speaking on the occasion, principal CCA G K Chin said that the objective of the digitization mela is to promote digitization payment at least at city in retailers’ level.
So, the target is within the city. It is mainly for the benefit of general population. Digitization system is electronic delivery system.
“We should try to transact every transaction through digital. Many kinds of transactions are still left untouched, though smart city concept demands for the same. We should try to fill the gap. Our systems should be in order,” he added.
Manipur has penetration of digitization of only five per cent, whereas Assam has reached 12 per cent. It can be increased in the coming days.
By November end it should achieve 60-70 per cent so that it achieves 90 per cent by March next year.
When trying to increase the number of digital payment, the roles of telecom service providers are very important.
“Educate your clients or customers about digital payment, as nobody wants to carry cash in bundle today since it is very risky thing,” the ptrincipal CCA said.
The principal CCA also called upon the concerned stakeholders for digital payment.
In her remark, G G Shabong, CCA Shillong, said there are around 4000-5000 retailers in Manipur and thrust has been given to educate the people on digital payment.
As part of the mela, presentations were given by the representatives of banks including State Bank of India (SBI) and telecom service providers and interacted through questions and answers too.
Director Deben Nambam of Department of Information and Technology, Officials from CCA Shillong, Imphal Municipality, National Payments Corporation of India; Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone and telecom retailers attended in the day’s mela cum seminar.
Earlier CCA Shillong had organized similar seminar in Agartala and Shillong and they are planning to organize the same in Aizawl soon after Imphal.