Ahmedabad, March 9 (NationPress) – On Monday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiated the sixth edition of the Digital Payment Awareness Week (DPAW) in Ahmedabad, focusing on a women-centered outreach initiative. This campaign emphasizes the urgent need for increased public knowledge regarding secure digital transactions, especially in light of the escalating incidents of online fraud.

This week-long initiative, which runs from March 9 to March 15, is part of the national campaign ‘Har Payment Digital’ and is spearheaded by the RBI’s Department of Payment and Settlement Systems based at its Central Office in Mumbai.

The Ahmedabad launch event took place at the Gujarat State Co-operative Bank in the Naranpura region, drawing approximately 400 attendees, including members from Self Help Groups (SHGs), trainees from the Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI), and bank staff.

The program was inaugurated by Amresh Ranjan, the Regional Director of RBI for Gujarat, with notable attendees including Kalpana More, RBI Ombudsman for Gujarat; Pramod Kumar Sharma, Chief General Manager at Bank of Baroda; and Pradeep M. Vora, CEO of the Gujarat State Co-operative Bank, along with other senior banking representatives.

During his address, RBI’s Regional Director Ranjan emphasized this year’s campaign theme, “Thoda Dhyaan Se” (a little caution), stressing the significance of fundamental safety measures when utilizing digital payment platforms.

He advised users to refrain from sharing their one-time passwords (OTP), personal identification numbers (PIN), or passwords with anyone, and cautioned against scanning QR codes or entering a PIN to receive payments.

“I urge individuals not to get swayed by offers that seem ‘too good to be true’ and to validate transaction details, such as the amount and the beneficiary's name, prior to completing any payments,” he stated.

Ranjan highlighted that India is now processing nearly half of the globe’s digital payment transactions, but noted that a lack of public awareness continues to lead to a rise in fraud-related complaints.

He remarked that secure digital payment systems are vital for enhancing market access, empowering women entrepreneurs, and bolstering financial inclusion.

Throughout the event, two entrepreneurs trained at RSETI Ahmedabad shared their journeys of utilizing training and digital payment solutions to establish self-sufficient livelihoods.

The program also included sessions on electronic banking and cybersecurity practices, along with a quiz on secure banking practices involving participants from banks and SHGs.

RBI representatives indicated that similar awareness initiatives will be conducted across various districts during the week in partnership with the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), banks, and other stakeholders to foster a secure and inclusive digital payments environment.