Union Minister of State for Agriculture Sudarshan Bhagat today described the Centre's demonetisation move as "historic and bold".
"It (demonetisation) was a historic and bold decision announced by the Prime Minister on November 8 last year," Bhagat said while addressing a Digidhan Mela hosted by East Singhbhum district administration at Gopal Maidan here.
Stating that the society was now transforming to online transaction system, the Minister said demonetisation has hit those who indulged in corruption, tax evasion, extremism and terrorist activities.
The poorer sections of the society, however, were being benefited, he said.
Urging people to motivate others to adopt cashless transaction, Bhagat said the country's economy would strengthen when transactions become completely online and would help eradicate poverty.
Appreciating the performance of East Singhbhum and Bokaro districts towards cashless transaction, Bhagat said among the 30 crore RuPay card holders in Jharkhand, 20 crore were Jan Dhan account holders.
Speaking on the occasion Secretary (IT), Jharkhand, Sunil Kumar Burnwal said despite geographical challenges, the state government was committed to reach out to the remotest areas to transform Jharkhand to a cashless state.
Claiming that Jharkhand was leading the country as far as cashless transaction drive was concerned, he said the state government has initiated steps to provide Internet facilities to all Panchayats by 2018 to promote online and mobile phone transactions.
In a bid to improve the connectivity, Burnwal said 782 mobile towers have been installed by BSNL in rural pockets, while the government has plans to provide WiFi facility in 1,200 villages to promote cashless transaction.
Jharkhand Food and Consumer Affair minister Saryu Roy and MP Bidyut Baran Mahato also spoke on the occasion.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)