AP to promote cashless transactions in a big way

​Tirupati: The State government will intensify the drive to promote cashless transactions to ensure transparency, said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The Chief Minister along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor E S L Narasimhan participated in the inaugural function of the five-day Indian Science Congress (ISC) here on Tuesday.

Delivering his address, Naidu spoke more about his government’s aggressive initiatives to promote cashless transactions and the benefits the demonetisation will bring.

Naidu said that the biometric-based banking transactions introduced in the State were first of its kind in country and added that efforts are on to increase the cashless transactions to 60-70 per cent within three months in the State against the present 25 per cent.

Hailing Prime Minister Modi for what he called the bold step of withdrawing high value currency notes, he said that it would wipe out the parallel economy the main support base for anti-social elements, extremists and terrorists and also corruption including political corruption.

Terming the demonetisation and GST as historic and biggest reforms after independence, he said it would usher in a lot of benefits to the nation’s economy.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the contribution of Indians to science since early days and also the nation’s unique gift of Yoga to the world.

Earlier, Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) general president D Narayana Rao in his welcome address spoke on the growth of ISCA and the contribution of a host of leading scientists like CV Raman, Jagadish Chandra Bose and others who had earlier served as ISCA presidents and helped in its growth.

SV University Vice-Chancellor Avula Damodaram gave a brief account of the university’s achievement in rankings in the past one year and also presented mementoes to the Prime Minister, Governor and Chief Minister.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented awards to eight persons including Asok Kumar Saxena, former ISCA president, K Byrappa, Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor, NR Jagannathan from AIIMS, New Delhi, Arun Kumar, Manipur University, I Sathyamurthy,

Apollo Hospital, Chennai, BP Chatterjee, West Bengal University of Technology, Apparao Podili, Vice-Chancellor of University of Hyderabad, and Avula Damodaram, Vice-Chancellor of S V university for their outstanding contribution to the field of science.

The Prime Minister also presented gold medals to five Nobel laureates who participated in the inaugural function.
The Nobel laureates include Professors Wiliam Esco, USA, Takaaki Kajita, Japan, Ada E Yonath, Israel, Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh and Serge Haroche, France.

The Prime Minister had tea and discussion with dignitaries including ISCA council members, prominent scientists and Nobel laureates before his departure for Tirumala by road for darshan.

Meanwhile, the inaugural meeting belied the high expectations of exciting science carnival and went on in a routine manner except a section of participants sloganeering intermittently, hailing Modi whose speech was also devoid of fire and passion.

The high security which was in place in and around the venue saw the people confined to their seats, curtailing their moments, till the Prime Minister left the venue after the inaugural function.

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsha Vardhan urged the scientists to contribute for the uplift of the poor and weaker sections. Minister of State Y S Chowdary also attended the inaugural function.