Village Level Entrepreneurs have revolutionised CSC movement : Minister

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Minister for Electronics & IT and Law Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad on May 14, 2018, said that the Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) have played a major role in revolutionising Common Service Centre (CSC) movement in the country.

Inaugurating a two- day workshop on “Tele- Centre Entrepreneurship Course”, the Minister said the time has come when these entrepreneurs have to be the main drivers of shaping new India as envisaged by the Government. Prasad appreciated the efforts of the enterprising VLEs in providing key services at the grassroots level and announced introduction of rewards at both central and regional level for the best performing entrepreneurs. He said next year onwards best performing VLE will get cash reward of Rs one lakh, according to a PIB release. These awards will also be on regional basis and there will be 5 activity based awards.

The Minister said, “ When our government came into existence, there were 83,000 CSCs in India. Now, we have 2.92 lakh CSCs across the country and 54,000 women VLEs are working hard to achieve the goals of Digital India mission in rural areas. In just 4 years, the total transactions of VLEs have increased from just Rs one crore (in year 2013-14) for an amount of Rs 180 crore to Rs 17.83 crore for an amount of Rs 19,000 crore in 2017-18. CSCs have given employment to more than 10 lakh people in India. I am confident that, all VLEs will be able to achieve the turnover of Rs 1 crore during the current year.”

Appreciating the strength of VLEs in mobilizing rural citizens under Digital India mission, Prasad said, “I have great expectation from CSC VLEs. Our VLEs are change makers of India. I am happy to note that CSCs are training auto- drivers in  using BHIM and encouraging them for Cashless India movement. I congratulate our VLEs who are running Sanitary Napkin manufacturing units in various part of country. Swachh Bharat and Swastha Bharat must be mass movement through CSC.”

Prasad added, “We want to take our Digital Economy to Rs one lakh Crore. In next few days, expansion of railway reservations would be done through CSCs. The CSCs have opened 31 BPOs in India.” The Minister was addressing 700 VLEs at the two- days training workshop organised by CSC SPV on “Tele- Centre Entrepreneurship Course”.

Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary, MeitY, said, “CSC movement has great significance in Digital India mission. CSC VLEs are enabling the disbursement of entitlement and pension to various citizens living in far flung areas of the country.”  He added, “The VLEs should encourage citizens and merchants for using BHIM app through BHIM QR code in their day to day transactions. Today, we have 110 Micro Manufacturing Units of sanitary pads.”