Modi bats for Bhim app on Ambedkar birth anniversary

NAGPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched on Friday the BHIM-Aadhaar digital payment platform, calling it an important instrument in the government’s attempts to clean the economy of black money.

The platform will enable people to pay with their fingerprints at shops equipped with a biometrics reader hooked onto the new platform, which promises to be the first of its kind in the world.

“It is a Safai Abhiyaan (cleanliness drive) to free the nation from corruption and black money,” Modi said, addressing an event celebrating the 126th birth anniversary of Dalit leader Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, whose named inspired the BHIM platform.

“Any citizen without access to SmartPhone, Internet, debit or credit cards will be able to transact digitally through the BHIMAadhaar platform,” Modi said.

Modi also unveiled an incentive programmes for the platform that will give each user ₹10 for every user that joins on their referral.

The existing and the new user will both get the debit. Merchants who deploy the platform for accepting payments will earn ₹25 for every transaction.

The incentive schemes —BHIM-Cashback and Referral Bonus — have an outlay of ₹495 crore for a six-month period to ensure the digital payments culture permeates to the grassroots, the PM said. “It will make digital payments easy for people who cannot read or write, thus realising Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision of social and financial empowerment for all. Nothing can stop its progress,” he said.