Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who inaugurated an exhibition on 'coin and currency of India' at the North Block here, said this initiative would help in knowing the history of evolution of currency in the country.
Speaking on the occasion yesterday, Jaitley congratulated the Department for its innovative initiative and hoped that this Great Hall will also be used for multiple purpose in future as well which in turn would help in restoring its old grandeur.
He said that this exhibition and alternate usage of the Great Hall as an Atrium where officers of all Departments of the Ministry have came together before the Budget for 2016-17 is also for the first time.
Finance Secretary Ratan Watal, who was also present on the occasion, said this initiative is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a 'Swachh Bharat' as this would also help in keeping our office environment clean.
He said that one of our targets for cleanliness has been this Great Hall of North Block whose top stone was laid on 30th September, 1927.
"This area (the hall) had become no man's land between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. We have taken it upon as a mission to not only keep this place clean but also restore the memories of its legacy," added Watal.
The exhibition, which houses finance and home ministries, depicts how money has changed in appearance and substance and has evolved from barter to coins to the present day bank notes and e-money.
As per a statement by the Finance Ministry, "The exhibition depicts the many names of money, some of which have gone into oblivion and some are in use even today. The exhibition presents a brief history of the Great Hall (where the exhibition is being organised) as well."
It is for the first time that such an exhibition has been organised in the historic hall which is otherwise used as a common passage to cross from one side of North Block to the other, it added.
Others present at the event included Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, Disinvestment Secretary Neeraj Kumar Gupta, Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, and other senior officers of the Ministry of Finance.
