Telangana pips Gujarat, tops in e-transactions

Hyderabad: The two Telugu states are leading the country in e-transactions post demonetisation. According to a report released by the Centre, both Telangana and AP have clocked 39 crore e-transactions till date since November 9, 2016, when demonetisation was announced. TS recorded Rs 20crore in e-transactions during the period.

The report says that the initiatives being taken up by governments in TS and AP to encourage cashless transactions post demonetisation have paid off. Even in e-transactions per 1,000 population, TS and AP stood at the top in the country.

The e-transactions are being tracked by the Union ministry of electronics and information technology to assess the extent of cashless transactions after demonetisation. While Telangana’s total population is 3,51,93,978, the total e-transactions recorded since November 9 were 20,04,11,513. The e-transactions per 1,000 population was highest in the country at 5,694.

In AP, the total population is 4,94,71,55. The total e-transactions recorded were 19,16,17,298. The e-transactions per 1,000 population was the second highest in the country at 3,873.

Though Gujarat recorded the highest e-transactions in the country at 20,13,09,614, it was put in the third place, since its population is more than that of the Telugu states. Gujarat’s population is 6,03,83,628 and the e-transactions per 1,000 population was 3,333, the third highest in the country.

The other states which recorded higher e-transactions include Uttar Pradesh (14,78,64,658) and Tamil Nadu (13,53,98,453). However, their e-transactions per 1,000 population was 740 and 1,876. IT minister K.T. Rama Rao expressed his happiness over Telangana topping thecountry in terms of e-transactions per 1,000 population.

“We have conducted programmes in all districts to create awareness among the people on adopting e-transactions following demonetisation. All payments to beneficiaries of welfare schemes have been made online. The public distribution system is also being made cashless with the introduction of swiping machines. All major government services are being offered in online mode. All these measures paid off, encouraging cashless transactions,” Mr Rao said.

E-transcations tracked in 6 categories

• Category-A:  Statutory & non-statutory services (certificates, payment of taxes, release of scholarships, social welfare scheme (DBT) transfers).
• Category-B: Utility bill payments (water, telephone, electricity bills. e-municipality services etc).
• Category-C: Business to citizen services (B2C includes banking transactions, mobile/ DTH recharge).
• Category-D: Information services (Information access from various e-governance portals/websites).
• Category-E: Social benefits (Government disbursements of pensions etc).
• Category-F:  Mobile governance (End-to-end services delivered through mobile device).
• In Category-A: TS witnessed 14.88 crore e-transactions, while AP witnessed 13.32 crore transactions.
• In Category-B: TS witnessed 54.32 lakh e-transactions, while AP 53.35 lakh.
• In Category-C: AP witnessed 52.89 lakh e-transactions, while TS 42.39 lakh.