Assam announces incentives to boost cashless economy

Assam announces incentives to boost cashless economy  Guwahati: Assam government on Monday announced incentives to supplement measures undertaken by Narendra Modi government in the Centre to promote less cash economy in the country post-demonetisation. Assam is probably the first state in the country to announce its own incentives to complement Centre’s overture to facilitate less cash

economy in the country. “The state will incur estimated short-term loss of Rs 100 crore for granting these incentives, but will gain in long-term,” state’s finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Effective from January 1 next, Assam government will offer 0.75 % discount in addition to 0.75 % already announced by the Centre on prices of petrol and diesel bought through digital transaction by customers at the selling point of Central sector oil PSUs.

The incentive offered by the state’s government will be adjusted to the VAT dues to be paid by the Oil PSUs.

Accordingly, customers in the state who have paid through digital/electronic modes will get cash back equivalent to 1.5 % of the prices of petrol/diesel purchased into their bank accounts.

Charges in all government hospitals in Assam will be reduced by 10 % in case electronic payment against user charges of Rs 500 and above.

Assam government will compensate in case the hospital managements have to incur loss for granting reduction.

Electronic payment against proper tax, license fees etc. in all urban local bodies in the state will be rewarded by 10 % reduction on amount payable and state government will bear the financial loss, if any, incurred by these bodies on this account.

Cash award of Rs 25,000 will be provided to Gram Panchayat Cooperative Societies if they make 100% digital transaction continuously during January 1 to June 30, 2017.

Ten fair price shops in the state will be selected on lottery basis for cash award of Rs 10000 each in case they succeed in carrying out 100 % digital transaction during continuously during January 1 to June 30 , 2017.

‘Priyanka brand ambassador’

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra has been roped in by Assam government as the Brand Ambassador of Assam Tourism for the next two years, to help global promotion of its destinations. Assam’s tourism minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday informed that she had already signed an agreement with Assam Tourism to become the brand ambassador for two years. She will come to the state on December  24 to attend a meeting with global tour operators, he said.