Govt saved Rs 36,000 cr through direct cash transfer, says IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

The various digitised economic activities included payment of subsidies and MGNREG wages through direct cash benefit facilities into the accounts of intended beneficiaries through Aadhaar.

New Delhi: The BJP-led NDA government has saved Rs 36,000 crore by digitising economic activities in one year, Union Law and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here on Saturday.

The various digitised economic activities included payment of subsidies and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee wages through direct cash benefit facilities into the accounts of intended beneficiaries through Aadhaar.

"With e-commerce facilities being made available to rural folk, the government succeeded in transfering their wages for many of its social schemes to intended beneficiaries into their accounts which has amounted to a saving of Rs 36,000 crore in the last 12 months with leakages being plugged," the minister said while speaking at the 111th annual general meeting of PHD Chamber.

The government, according to Prasad has been driving the digital drive and e-commerce in such a way that the poor labourers are getting their benefits beyond imagination.

Talking about the power of Digital India and e-commerce initiatives by the government, the minister said the government would go all out to make suitable laws and policy initiatives for cyber security.