Taking a dig at those who criticised the Centre’s initiatives to boost digital transactions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that women self-help groups (SHGs) promoted by the Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) in Karnataka have proved them all wrong.

Handing over RuPay cards to SHG members at Ujire village in Dakshina Kannada district, he said those who are considered ‘stalwarts’ gave speeches in Parliament during November-February, expressing doubts on the nation transitioning from cash to digital mode.

Their arguments were that many people are poor and illiterate, and don’t have mobile phones, recalled Modi.

But D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple (who has promoted SHGs through SKDRDP), has given a fitting reply to such people, said Modi. About 12 lakh SKDRDP members have already opened Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts, he added. They were also given RuPay cards. These members have decided to take up digital transactions for their SHG operations with the help of the BHIM app and other digital modes, said the PM.

He further said currency changes from time to time — from stone to leather, gold, paper and plastic. It is time for the country to use digital currency, he pointed out. Excess cash on hand is the reason for many social evils, and cashless transactions will bring in self-accountability, he added. “Now an era of digital currency has started, and India should not lag behind.”

Urging SHG members to register on GeM (Government eMarketplace), the PM said they can list their produces on the platform.

As of now around 40,000 sellers and 15 State governments have enrolled on it. He urged the Karnataka government to enrol on it, too. A seller gets assured price for his product, he added.

Modi said Dharmasthala has implemented many models related to skill development in the last several years. To meet the requirements of human resources in the coming years it is essential to build capacity amongst the countrymen through skill development, he added.

Dharmasthala model Many saints and seers in the country have created and nurtured institutions, helping society for centuries. It is essential to look at how these institutions took the tasks forward for several generations, said the PM. The format of the decisions they have taken over the years, their financial management models, and their models of implementing transparency should be studied. Dharmasthala is one such model, and it is time for universities to focus on such topics, he said.

Speaking on the Dharmasthala’s initiative to protect the earth, he said the uncontrolled use of chemicals and fertilisers has deteriorated the soil condition.

Modi suggested that SHG members of SKDRDP initiate a programme to cultivate seaweed along the shore. This will help them provide livelihood when fishing activities are not there. He asked SKDRDP to send him a report on this initiative so that it can help others also.

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