Digital India 2016 - A glance

Digital India 2016 - A glance.  By Pavithran

Digital India is an giant leap for Indian society. Though the Scheme launched in  July 1 2015, many major initiatives of government and demonetization made “digital India” a buzzword in 2016.

As by Our P.M. Modi, “If we have to build the nation we have to start from villages”. There are still some areas without mobile network coverage, poor accessibility to banks, poor literacy rate and English knowledge. So there are chances for “digital divide” within our geographical area.

Similarly, Reports suggest that digital banking in India is not safe or reliable, due to poor cyber security infrastructure and policy. In October 2016 there was a major hack of credit and debit cards that affected around 3.2 million cards of 17 major banks in the country. The recently launched BHIM App is also criticized for lack of basic security features. The other challenges include poor smartphone penetration (only 34.8%), huge unorganized labour workforce, uninterrupted power supply for smooth e-transactions. Shortage of Point of sale machines and reliability of digital economy in Natural disasters like Vardah cyclone pose questions.

Digitisation in the current scenario can not be avoided as the world shifts to digital mode much faster. And there are many advantages in Digital Economy both directly and indirectly. The main advantages include prevention of corruption, black money and tax evasion. It prevents stagnation of money and fastens circulation.

As 120 million peoples of India are daily associated with paper documents the need of paper is increasing which leads to the various negative environmental consequence.  It also reduces travelling to get government services (by online submission of documents, digital signatures, video conferencing), thereby reducing vehicular pollution. So Digital India has Environmental benefits too.

It also put forward transparency and accountability in governance system. For example, Mygov app which act as interface between citizens of India and the government. Even normal layman can give his suggestions to the government. In a democratic system engagement of citizens in decision making is a key step. And it can be achieved through e-governance.

 

And public participation in policy making is increased with the digital social media platforms. Obviously, the Most innovative citizens management award Platinum Icon has been received by Mygov initiative and Coimbatore municipal corporation receives silver icon. There are many state government schemes such as amma e sevai maiyam in Tamilnadu, MeeSeva in Andhra Pradesh, Bhoomi project in Karnataka which gives access to various services to masses digitally.

Reports says that by 2020 internet users will be doubled to 750 million, in which 75% will be coming from rural areas. Making India to overcome US in the penetration of internet. This gives a positive note in delivery of digital services by Government.

In the whole, Digital India needs more time and it can not be achieved in a short time. Good initiatives of government should be put forward with better planning and execution to reach out every citizen of the country.

(Pavithran is a graduate in Agriculture. He is interested and passionate towards Politics.  sripaviips5@gmail.com)

Image source: digitalindia.gov.in,mygov.in

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Demonitisation Vs Farming Community

Demonitisation and its effects on Rural and Farming Community in India

Our Indian Government’s announcement to the withdrawal of legal tender character of existing Rs.500/- and Rs.1000/- denomination banknotes from November 08, 2016. This is the third time higher denomination notes were demonetized. Previously, in 1946 first demonetization of Rs.1000/- and Rs.10000/- denomination notes. Later in 1954, Rs.1000/-, Rs.5000/- and Rs.10000/- were reintroduced into circulation and all of them were demonetised again in 1978. Rs.500/- note came to circulation in October 1987 and Rs.1000/- note made a comeback in November 2000. However, this is the first time that Rs.2000/- denomination notes being introduced.

   The withdrawal limits were restricted by RBI on demonetization, which hit the economy into a serious liquidity crunch. It adversely affected the farming community and rural sector because of poor implementation of the scheme and inadequate number of banks, ATMs and poor internet connectivity in rural areas. Agriculture in India is the core sector for food security, nutrition security and important means of poverty alleviation in rural India. As per estimates by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the share of agriculture and allied sectors (including agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishery) was 16.1 per cent of the Gross Value Added (GVA) during 2014–15 at 2011–12 prices. More than 65% of India’s population depend on cash only. An important impact of demonetisation is likely to be on crop production in the Rabi(Winter) season.  Farmers buy seeds, fertilisers and farm equipment in cash, pay their workers in cash, and wholesalers, traders and commission agents pay farmers in cash. The shortage of cash is gives discomfort to the people.
     If sowing delayed, crops will be harvested in late march/april which affects rabi crop’s  productivity and farm income will be in great question. Falling Vegetable prices have already eaten the farmer's profit. Onions sold for just Rs.1 per kilogram in wholesale markets at Madhya Pradesh’s Neemuch and Mandsaur, while tomatoes cost less than Rs.2/kg in Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh. A kilogram of cauliflower fetched farmers just Rs.3/- in Bihar and potatoes cost Rs.3/- to Rs.5/- per kilogram in wholesale markets in Uttar Pradesh. The prices have fallen because the traders have stopped buying produce. The traders aren’t buying because most farmers aren’t accepting the old notes vice versa.

     Around 80 percent of India’s workforce includes workers in small and medium industries, grocers, roadside vendors, barbers, maids, and others. The purchasing power of the people drastically reduced which struggled the rural population. Daily wage workers didn’t get their wages properly. Lack of knowledge in the digital payments is the major disadvantage and they were forced to do digital transactions. Average incomes of Indian agricultural households are extremely low, demonetization further deepen the crisis.
    Recent digital initiatives offered by the central government to the farmers like Soil Health Card Scheme, National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), Kisan Suvidha Mobile app, Crop Insurance app and etc., showing the Information Technology intervention in agriculture. Co-operative societies at grassroot levels are reported in  helping the farmers to tackle the situation. PM Modi’s New Year gifts like Crop loan waivers, interest subvention for housing and farming loans, replacement of Kisan credit card with rupay cards are timely intervention to reduce the burden.

    Demonetisation is likely to affect agricultural growth adversely and shrink rural incomes and consumer demand in short term. Opposition parties voice that post demonetisation measures taken by the central government are inadequate. The lesson we learnt from demonetization is that rural and farming communities are not yet ready for digital economy or cashless transactions. So digital transition of India should start as bottom up approach with farmer friendly measures. Agricultural extension activities can be coupled with digital literacy awareness for grassroot level change.

  - Sathees Kumar

(He is a graduate in sericulture. He is interested in Trekking and Adventure. Contact:satheesh8314@gmail.com)

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