To push India towards a digital economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched an Aadhaar-based mobile payment app called BHIM at the Digi Dhan Mela event in Delhi.
The new e-wallet app has been named after Dr BR Ambedkar.
The ‘BHIM’ app which stands for Bharat Interface for Money is developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and is available for Android smartphones via Google Play Store.
“Download it on a smartphone or on a feature phone. It is not necessary to have the internet for this app. In the next two weeks, one more work is being done, which will increase the power of BHIM so much that you would be able to withdraw money even with your fingerprints,” PM Modi said at the event.
Noting that the poor were the most affected after the note ban was implemented, PM Modi said that he is thankful to the media as their criticism has helped the government formulate schemes and take up initiatives to empower the poor.
Stating that the poor were once called ‘angootha chaap’, Modi said the BHIM App would soon enable the poor to use just thumb impressions to pay.
The PM also announced that the mega draw will take place on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Besides that, he felicitated winners of Lucky Grahak Yojana and awarded students who have made posters, songs and slogans to spread the message of digital payments to their families, schools.’