Empowering the marginalized: PayU India and CSC Academy launch campaign for digital and financial literacy

New Delhi, August 08, 2023. In a significant effort to uplift underprivileged sections of society, including SC-ST, BPL, and women, PayU India, a prominent online payment service provider, has joined forces with CSC Academy, an SPV of the Ministry of Electronics & IT, to kickstart a collaborative campaign focused on enhancing digital and financial literacy. The campaign's core mission is to extend essential knowledge and civic services to individuals aged 15 to 60, primarily in Delhi/Gurugram, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, through strategically positioned mobile vans. This initiative is set to run from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

Aiming to elevate living standards and integrate more citizens into the Digital India plan, this joint endeavour seeks to empower the masses by promoting financial savviness and secure digital transactions. By addressing the gaps in financial and digital literacy, the program aspires to mitigate the challenges faced by the less informed populace.

Underpinning the Digital India initiative, digital and financial literacy emerges as the cornerstone of individual empowerment. This campaign is poised to integrate the benefits of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) into rural residents' daily lives, encompassing essential aspects such as healthcare, income generation, and education. Furthermore, the curriculum will emphasize leveraging digital financial tools for electronic payment systems, in alignment with the government's drive towards cashless transactions through mobile devices. The mobile vans will facilitate enhanced access to citizen-centric services, extending a valuable lifeline to underserved communities.

Guiding this initiative, the Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) of CSC will play a crucial role in its implementation. With each mobile van expected to train approximately 50,000 individuals within a year, this collaborative effort aims to bridge the communication gap in remote areas where conventional media may not effectively reach. These mobile units not only make outreach to isolated rural locales feasible but also foster meaningful interactions with local residents.

The launch of this campaign marks a transformative step in the pursuit of inclusive growth and digital empowerment, reinforcing the commitment of PayU India and CSC Academy to enhance the lives of marginalized communities through comprehensive digital and financial literacy initiatives.

We fully believe in and support the vision of the government to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and a knowledge-based economy," said Mr. Anirban Mukherjee, CEO of PayU India. “This initiative for last-mile financial service delivery is our demonstration of commitment.”

Mr. Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, MD & CEO, CSC SPV, explained this relationship by stating that, “Rural India is fast transforming due to financial and digital empowerment. Vans will be able to reach isolated rural areas thanks to this relationship with PayU. This will pave the way for inclusive development in that area."