Aim to take digital economy to new heights with VLEs support: Ravi Shankar Prasad

New Delhi, May 14 : The government is aiming to take the country’s digital economy to Rs one lakh crore with the active participation of village level entrepreneurs (VLEs), IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here on Monday.
Addressing the VLEs at a two-day training workshop on “Tele- Centre Entrepreneurship Course”, the IT Minister said VLEs have played a major role in revolutionizing Common Service Centre (CSC) movement in the country.
He said in next few days, expansion of railway reservations would be done through Common Service Centres (CSCs). CSCs has opened 31 BPOs in India and the plan is to open more such BPO in CSC.
He 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 one lakh rupee. These awards will also be on regional basis and there will be 5 activity based awards.
Appreciating the strength of VLEs in mobilizing rural citizens under Digital India mission, the Minister said CSCs are training auto drivers for using BHIM and encouraging them for Cashless India movement.

Hailing the VLEs who for running Sanitary Napkin manufacturing units in various part of country and contribution in women’s health and hygiene, Mr Prasad said. Swachh Bharat and Swastha Bharat will be mass movement through CSC.

The main objective of the Telecentre Entrepreneur Course (TEC) is to inculcate the skills of entrepreneurship among the VLE and train them on various government and other services provided by CSCs.
The Minister also asked to explore the possibility of involvement of CSCs in health insurance scheme and support the citizens in availing this unique initiative of the government.
The Minister also presented awards to VLEs who successfully passed Tele-centre Entrepreneurship Course exam. On the occasion, a special publication highlighting Top 500 transacting VLEs of CSC and film on Rural Entrepreneurship through CSC was also launched by the Minister.
UNI