Demonetisation: Maharashtra governor asks universities in state to go cashless

Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao has asked all universities in the state to shift to cashless transactions and directed vice chancellors to create awareness among students and institutes about e-transactions.

The Governor, who is chancellor of universities in the state, sought a time-bound action plan from the vice chancellors. He said the move is expected to benefit students and bring about greater transparency in the system.

Rao has asked all universities in the state to shift to electronic transfers or transactions while accepting fees from students or dealing with various stakeholders, a Raj Bhavan statement said.

In a letter addressed to vice chancellors of all 20 universities in Maharashtra, Rao directed varsities to take up a drive for creating awareness about various methods of doing electronic transactions and e-transfer of money.

He has asked them to ensure that all the monetary transactions, in the sphere of the universities, affiliated colleges and those concerning the student community shall henceforth be done through the electronic transfer.

The direction comes in the wake of government’s move to invalidate higher denomination notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 to build a cashless society and to correct ‘deficiencies in the system’.

Enclosing separate notes in Hindi and in English, on the various methods of doing electronic transactions and transfer of money, to his letter, the Governor has asked the VCs to “draw up a detailed time-bound strategy” based on gaps/ needs analysis for all the stakeholders and adopt suitable mechanism to achieve the objective.

The Governor has also asked the vice chancellors to keep his office posted about the steps taken by the university to comply with his                                                                                                                      guidelines. Rao expects the universities to create awareness in the public at large about cashless transactions and electronic transfer, the                                                                                                            statement read.