People at the stalls in the ongoing Digi Dhan Mela (December 12-18, 2017) organized by the Department of Information Technology and Communication (IT&C) at the Civil Secretariat Kohima. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | December 14
The culture of digital transaction may still be a new concept in Nagaland, but the ongoing Digi Dhan Mela (December 12-18, 2017) organized by the Department of Information Technology and Communication (IT&C) at the Civil Secretariat Kohima is providing digital experience for customers with different needs.
Be it purchase of fruits, vegetables, handicrafts and other products or services related to mobile payments and recharge, Aadhaar correction, PAN card services, Indian Passport services, Online GPF, and Mobile-Aadhaar linking, every transaction at the Mela is cashless.
Altogether eight stalls run by the Angami Catholic Youth Organisation (ACYA), YouthNet, Common Services Centre (CSC), Information Technology & Communication (IT&C), Uptown Fast Food, Green Accent and a Pineapple Stall (Molvom), apart from five telecom service providers namely, Aircel, Airtel, Jio, Vodafone and BSNL, and HDFC Bank are part of the Mela that aims to promote digital payment.
While other cities in India may be promoting this idea for reasons such as “abolition of black money, generation of revenue and transparent payment of taxes”, Commissioner & Secretary for Information Technology & Communication, K.D Vizo impressed upon the need for our people to first develop the culture of digital payment, which will eventually enable entrepreneurs to conduct business not only in the national level but also international level.
“Bringing technology is easy but changing the culture is the most difficult thing”, he told The Morung Express, while maintaining that in the past, whether a state is developed or not was based on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth or Below Poverty Line (BPL) percentage. However today, he pointed out that a state or country is considered to be developed based on digital transactions.
Observing that there are hardly any shops in the state that use the method of digital payment, he expressed hope that the Digi Dhan Mela will incentivize digital payments. He also acknowledged HDFC Bank for providing Point of Sale Machines for use at the Mela.
Joint Secretary for Irrigation and Flood Control & Additional Director, ATI, Kevekha Kevin Zehol who previously served as the Director of IT&C impressed upon that this was a much needed initiative while stating that ‘handholding our people’ towards this end would minimize standing in queues and simplify bill payments, etc. He said that every department should take such a thing religiously while commending the IT&C Department for the brilliant initiative under the leadership of the Commissioner & Secretary.
Senior Program Officer, IT&C, Chura Katiry highlighted that Mobile-Aadhaar linking is one of the most sought after services with the government making it mandatory. He said that many citizens are facing problem in this regard citing instances of there being too much rush or the distance to get to the service providers. At the Mela however, citizens can avail the services of 5 telecom service providers in this regard.
Meanwhile, the ACYA stall caters to organic fruits and vegetables, traditional attires and handmade pots made of white cement. ACYA President, Marcus Chadi said that running the stall has been a good experience especially in terms of digital payments where there is also no hassle of looking for change. Although when sales are bad, he said, they get a little discouraged since fruits and vegetables are perishable items.
YouthNet Team related that it has been great. Teiso Kense from YouthNet, who is leading the 3 trainees at the stall, who are practically experiencing customer interaction as part of their training, said, “we wanted them to experience and know the value of time and money; time management, interacting with customers and know the reality.”
Shilusanla Longkumer, Trainee at YouthNet said that the practical thing is always different while impressing upon that they are learning “the smallest of things we don’t account for.”
On the other hand, the CSC stall is providing public related services in connection with e-governance. Stating excitement to be part of the Mela, the CSE Team said they hope to tell people more about their services while also enlightening that Aadhaar correction and Passport applications are two of the services most people enquire about.
“Our stall is also like a felicitation centre and we are hoping for more digital transactions in the days to come”, they added.
The Digi Dhan Mela will culminate with the e-Naga Summit scheduled to be held at the Capital Convention Centre on December 18, 2017 under the theme, “Making Nagaland the Leader in Digital Payment.”
It may be mentioned here that the Digi Dhan mela is being initiated in 100 different cities across the country.
