Govt to launch two incentive schemes across 100 cities to boost digital payments

The Union government will launch awards under the Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana-- twin schemes incentivising digital payments-- in 100 cities over 100 days, the NITI Aayog said on Saturday.

"The first draw of the Lucky Grahak Yojana to provide a cashback of Rs 1,000 to 15,000 consumers every day for the next 100 days will be launched on Sunday in New Delhi by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. 

"To create awareness in different parts of the country, the event would be followed in 100 different cities across India over the next 100 days until March," the Aayog said in a statement. 

Winners will be selected on a daily and weekly basis under the Lucky Grahak Yojana and weekly basis under the Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana respectively, leading up to a mega draw on April 14, 2017, where after the scheme shall be reviewed for further implementation, it said. 

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The twin schemes aimed at giving a fillip to digital payment, were launched by the NITI Aayog that has been tasked to undertake a comprehensive campaign on advocacy, awareness and co-ordinate handholding efforts among general public, micro enterprises and other stakeholders for digital payments. 

Discounts will now be given for payments made on a digital platform at petrol stations, for insurance premium, tolls at national highways and for railway tickets. To reduce transaction costs of digital payments, several fees and charges being levied so far by banks and on various government portals have either been reduced or done away with, it said. 

A scheme has also been launched to improve supply of cards and point-of-sale (POS) machines in rural areas.

Digidhan Melas, where all stakeholders of digital payment ecosystem exhibit and provide actual hand holding to general public in adopting digital payments have also been held to popularise the digital payments amongst the general public, added the Aayog.

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