Cashless economy? Modi govt building castles in air, says Congress

The Congress has been saying the government's cashless economy plans have not bee thought through

The Congress has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for a cashless economy using various digital platforms while pointing out that government data was exposing the centre's hollow claims.

On April 30 this year, the Telecom Commission approved the Bharat Net project which aimed to connect around 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across in three phases.

In phase- I, against a target of connecting 1,00,000 gram panchayats by March 2017, only 12,597 could be networked till November 6.

Further, against a target of around 2.2 Lakh Km of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) to be laid to connect 1,00,000 gram panchayats by March 2017, only around 1,43,445 Km of optical fibre cable has been laid till November 6.

 

The information was provided by the telecom ministry in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on November 16 when the ongoing winter session started.

The Congress has been attacking PM Modi over demonetisation issue saying the government's cashless economy plans have not bee thought through.

"Modi government is building castles in the air. Data and facts reflect digital connectivity is an unachievable milestone on account of lack of priority. But in order to cover up demonetisation, our PM continuously speaks about digital banking," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told this newspaper.

"Falsehood of Modi's claims have been exposed by government's own data. Digital banking is yet another jumla of the government," he said.

Expressing concern over safety and security of online conversational platforms like Twitter, Surjewala said that handles of leaders, political parties and even media personalities have been hacked.

Recently, twitter handle of Rahul Gandhi and that of Congress party were hacked.

"Neither statutory provisions nor safeguards have been provided for such platforms," said Surjewala.

Explaining the delays in the rural connectivity plan, the government listed several challenges including massive surveys needed across rural areas, location of existing fibre, lack of inter-agency co-ordination, procurement and supply issues, hilly and rocky terrains and the Left Wing Extremism.

Besides, high rates quoted by contractors, lengthy procedures for right of way permission from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), forest, oil and gas companies and unavailability of Gram Panchayat/government building in some states were the other challenges behind the plan.

Phase I is being executed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, RailTel and Power Gird Corporation of India Limited.

In Phase-II, remaining gram panchayats using an optimal mix of underground/aerial OFC, radio and satellite media are to be covered by September 2018.

In Phase-III, future proofing of the network with ring topology to be used between districts and blocks and blocks and Gram Panchayats is to be done.