Assam Govt takes initiatives to promote cashless economy

 In yet another move to promote cashless transactions among the people of Assam, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced incentives against cashless transactions.  Central Govt OIL PSUs have offered 0.75% discount on the price of diesel and petrol to the customers, if they pay electronically. State govt will also offer another 0.75% discount in addition to the above and this amount will be adjusted to the VAT dues to be paid by the OIL PSUs. All patients whose user charges are Rs 500 and above will be reduced by 10% to those who pay electronically. If hospitals/ medical colleges incur any financial loss on this account, State govt will compensate the Hospital Management Committees. Property Tax and Trade license fee charged by ULBS will be reduced by 10% to those who pay electronically. If any ULB incur any financial loss on this account, state govt will compensate them. GPSS which makes all receipts and payments electronically will be incentivised. Such GPSS will get a cash award of (a) Rs 25,000 for 100%digital payments from 1st January to 30th June 2017. FPS which makes all receipts and payments electronically will be incentivised. Such FPS will get a cash award of (1) Rs 10,000 if 100% payments are made digital from 1st January to 30th June 2017. If there are more than 10 claimants, 10 will be selected by lottery. If more than 75% account holders in a Rural Bank branch who make at least two electronic/ digital transactions between 1st January 2017 to 31st March 2017, such banks will awarded 'CM's Award for Assam rural Digital initiative 2016-17. If all transactions of a village in particular Gaon Panchayat are made 100% electronic within 31st March 2017, such selected villages will be awarded 'CM's Award for Uttam Panchayat for Digital Transactions.' If all transactions of a farmer on purchase of fertilisers and seeds happen through cashless mechanism between 1st January 2017 and 15th July 2017, such first ten farmers in each district will be awarded 'CM's Award for Digital Krishak Shiromoni, with a cash award of Rs 5,000 and a citation. Rs 100 per labour will be given as an incentive to a tea estate/ garden provided that the full payment of wages to a particular worker at each of the specified intervals is made through digital mode during the period from 1st Jan 2017 to 31st March 2017. Rs 5 per ticket will be given as an incentive to cinema hall owners for online sale of tickets through digital payment received during the period from 1st Jan 2017 to 31st March 2017, and such amount will be reduced from entertainment tax to be paid to the government. If all receipts and payments are electronically made by govt/ provincialised colleges continuously from 1st Jan 2017 to 15th July 2017, such top ten colleges will be provided a cash incentive of Rs 5 lakh each. If there are more than 10 claimants, 10 will be selected by lottery. If 75% of total land revenue is collected through digital mode from 1st Jan 2017 to 15th 2017, such first top ten Mauzadars will be provided a cash incentive of Rs 25,000 each. If there are more than 10 claimants are there, 10 will be selected by lottery.  Entry Tax for POS Machines will be exempted up to 31st march 2017. Entry Tax for VSAT Dish antennae will be exempted upto 31st March 2017. Entry Tax for all mobile wifi will be exempted up to 31st March 2017/ All taxes under the Commissionerate of Taxes shall only be deposited through electronic/ digital mode if tax amount if Rs 10,000 or more. Rs 5 will be provided to the DCs as cash incentive for every individual citizen who have transited to digital payment mode in addition to Rs 10 already announced by NITI Aayog. As part of CM's Award for Excellence in Public Administration, a new award called Digital District Championship Award will be instituted to begin with for 2016-17 ending 31st March 2017, with a cash award of Rs 50,000 and a citation for those DCs who will contribute significantly for capacity building, digital transactions and brand building, and sustainability of less cash economy and digital payments in a district. Stay updated on the go with GPlus News. Click here to download the app for your device.