New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched e-RUPI, the digital payment system that has been developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and National Health Authority.
"e-RUPI voucher will play a role in boosting digital transactions and DBT in the country. This will help everyone in targeted, transparent, and leakage-free delivery", PM Modi said.
He emphasised that the India of the 21st century is moving ahead in the world of technology and e-RUPI represents the same: "e-RUPI is an example of how India is moving forward and connecting people in the 21st century with the help of advanced technology. I'm glad that it has started in the year when India is celebrating its 75th year of Independence".
"It is a step towards futuristic reform," he added.
The Prime Minister stated that not only the government, "if any general organisation or organisation wants to help someone in their treatment, in their education or for any other work, then they will be able to give eRUPI instead of cash".
This will ensure that the money given by him is used for the same work for which that amount has been given, he added.
e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless method for digital payment. It is a QR code or SMS string-based e-voucher, which is delivered to the mobile of the users who will be able to redeem the voucher without needing a card, digital payments app, or internet banking access, at the service provider.
As previously mentioned, the one-time payment mechanism has been developed by the National Payments Corporation of India on its UPI platform, in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and National Health Authority.
e-RUPI connects the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers in a digital mode without any physical interface, the government informed.
The mechanism also ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed. The system is pre-paid in nature and hence, assures timely payment to the service provider without the involvement of any intermediary
The e-RUPI be used for delivering services under schemes meant for providing drugs and nutritional support under Mother and Child welfare schemes, TB eradication programmes, drugs and diagnostics under schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, fertiliser subsidies, etc.
The government expects it to be a revolutionary initiative in the direction of ensuring a leak-proof delivery of welfare services.
Even the private sector can leverage these digital vouchers as part of their employee welfare and corporate social responsibility programmes, the PMO stated.