Digitisation and The Digital India :

Digitisation and The Digital India :

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar propounded that we cannot change the past by remaining in the past. We have to break away from the shackles of the past to change the future. By remaining in the status quo we cannot aspire for a change for the better. Dr. Ambedkar also in his thoughts asked - don't hesitate to adopt change, adapt to the change. Change is inevitable he said.

On 30th December 2016, in the 125th birth anniversary year of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Government of India introduced an app called BHIM the pet name for all the diehard followers of Dr.Ambedkar. It's an important element of digitisation. Probably by naming it so Modi was nudging all of us more so people at the lower strata of society rather subtly than overtly to embrace this change.

Why we have to embrace this or rather participate in this abhiyan called digitisation? Digitisation is one of the ambitious projects that has the ability to cleanse the system which is rotten, stinking, corrupted and controlled by the vested interests. The people at the bottom of the pyramid are the worst hit by the system infested with cancer called corruption. The opponents of the project who are mainly the vested interests often shed crocodile tears for the downtrodden, projecting these gullible sections of the society as the victims to obfuscate their interests and to continue the status quo because it suits them to proliferate corruption. Let us not fall prey to these sham and false entreaties. So, I believe we as common men has more to do with digitisation.

Digitisation is a real game changer for the Indian economy. It encompasses the whole gamut of payments mechanism. It has the potential to revolutionize the way the businesses are conducted. It's a powerful tool to facilitate transactions smoothly and quickly. It is a great enabler of financial inclusion. It does not discriminate. It is not subjective. It can to a large extent avoid genesis of black money. It facilitates ease of doing business. Above all it is a low cost and easily accessible banking tool for the people who are at lower strata of society who otherwise many times don't have the access to the regular banking channels. Even if they do have, the bank charges are too prohibitive. It reduces cost and increases convenience. It's a low hanging fruit especially for the lower strata of society. Digital banking has the reach and ability to touch the lives of last person in the last mile. It also gives a push towards cashless or less cash economy. I am sure you will agree that greater the degree of movement towards cashless economy, lesser will be the possibility of occurrence of corruption and therefore the generation of black money. It is therefore all the more important for the people at the lower strata of society to embrace this innovative tool called digitalisation because we are the most benefitted lot because it is low cost and it is easily accessible.

Digitisation liberates an individual. Not only that it gives freedom in your palm and empowers you. If you have smartphone with Internet, you have the whole world in your fingertips. This is the most redeeming factor one should not lost sight of. Leverage this powerful tool to liberate yourselves.

We as citizens have a duty and responsibility to carry forward this abhiyan with all the sincerity zeal and commitment. The task of changing something and improving something cannot be solely left at the hands of the government. Whatever may be the sincere efforts of the government to improve the matters, it will not met with the desired success unless people, citizens who are the beneficiaries and stakeholders do not participate in the change process. It takes two to tango. Therefore let us all participate and involve fully in this exercise because at the end of the day it benefits us.

Let us go digital.

K.N.Krishnan,          94496 12446
Vice-president,
SEWA, Bangalore.