MHA begins work to familiarize personnel with digital payment

In the wake of demonetization, the Home Ministry has started working on the process to familiarise its employees as well as central armed forces personnel with digital payment modes.

Senior officers of the NITI Aayog today made a presentation on digital payments before the Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, heads of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Joint Secretary Vikram Singh Gaur said a number of convenient modes of electronic payments are available such as the United Payments Interface, e-Wallet, Prepaid Cash, Credit and Debit Cards, Unstructered Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and Aadhaar Enabled Payment System for their needs. One need not even have a smart phone to make transactions over USSD, any mobile phone number linked to the individual's bank account can be used for transferring money, the NITI Aayog officials said.

The presentation came in the wake of demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes and government's push for adopting digital mode of transactions in all financial dealings.

During the meeting, Rijiju said though it is difficult to move to digital payments initially but once people start, they can easily adapt to the cashless mode of payments.

Rijiju said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has encouraged the citizens to switch over to the cash-less transactions.

The Minister expressed confidence to meet the challenge in the MHA, an official release said.