Common Service Centers (CSC) have been undertaking the financial literacy and Investor education program in some States. Some CSCs are also participating in the legal literacy program of the Government. With these initiatives CSCs have redefined the awareness and access program of various govt agencies especially in rural areas.
Ability of CSC to mobilize people , use digital content , credibility in local area and commitment to involve in such venture has established a unique model in India for other government / private agencies to utilise and extend their reach .
Dr Dinesh Tyagi, CEO-CSC SPV says, “We have been assigned to participate in the digital financial literacy/ awareness program of the Government. It has two major components: (a) Each CSC to conduct a session for digital financial services of minimum 40 persons ( incentive for VLE -An amount of Rs 200 for each session ) and (b) Each CSC to enable minimum of ten merchants – shopkeepers , traders etc and support them to use digital financial tools for daily transaction ( incentive – an amount of Rs 100 per merchant ).”
He added, “Details will be shared by the state team and an e-district manager. Earlier the financial literacy program involved only limited no of CSCs. However, in this scheme, all CSCs will participate and all Panchayats will be covered across the country. This is a great opportunity for the CSCs to involve community and actively participate in supporting Government initiative of promoting cashless transaction – building a new India.”
As the young generation will find it relatively easy to accept and adopt digital financial tools , CSCs can also visit nearby colleges and schools and educate the students and support them in adopting digital financial technologies. These students can in turn educate their families, friends and nearby shopkeepers, hawkers and merchants.
VLEs can also visit the market day and make every hawker adopt/accept digital payment from customers. This will need skills and ability of the VLEs to effectively communicate and remove misgiving if any about use of digital payments. They need to also explain the safety and ease of use of these technologies. About fifty to One hundred VLEs from each state which perform best in this initiative will be given award at a national level function.
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