Scepticism about online transactions continues

RAM ROOP GIRI, 42 LAKHIMPURI KHERI (UP)

The agriculturist has won H1,000 for going cashless, but right now, 80% of his transactions are in cash. “Even shops that have POS machines prefer cash. If I tell them I do not have cash, they give goods on credit and wait for up to a week for cash payment,” the political science graduate says. “In fact, people want to save tax that they would be required to pay to the government when their transaction comes on record. They fear digital transactions will be monitored and they would not be able to evade taxes,” Giri said. While accepting the government reward from the government, Giri claimed that he preferred cashless transactions. “Soon more and more will realise the ease of doing online transfer,” the government quoted him as saying. But now, Giri says digital transaction was his last option as most shops don’t have swipe machines. The nearest ATM from his home is 9 km.

JATANGI SAIDULU YADAV, 31 SURYAPET (TELANGANA)

When Yadav, the only earning member of his family, won a lottery for cashless transaction, told the government that cashless was better as getting change for high denomination notes was difficult. After having used online mode of payments for nearly three years, he told HT that he had opted for cashless transactions post-demonetisation, but the frequently reduced as cash flow in ATMs improved over the last few weeks. Saidulu said the digitisation of currency has led to additional burden on consumers as some shops in Suryapet and other bigger towns demand 1-2% extra on the cashless transaction in the name of surcharge. “This is where I am compelled to pay in cash. Otherwise, I prefer online mode,” he said.

MUDANNA SHETTY, 44 THANE (MAHARASHTRA)

The dhaba owner, who won H50,000 cash award, termed the government’s cashless spending as a 50-50 situation as he still makes transactions using hard cash. Although the government said that Shetty had started using digital payments at his eatery, Kaka ka Dhaba, when he heard about the ease of money transfer after the demonetisation of high-value currency notes, the businessman told Hindustan Times that he had installed a debit/credit card swipe machine way back in January 2015. Though his dependence and preference for cashless transaction increased since demonetisation (in November 8, 2016 , Shetty claims there are several roadblocks in the process. “It (cashless) will bring a lot of transparency and track the corrupt,” he says.

ASHA DAMODHAR, 42 KASARGODE (KERALA)

The government used Damodhar’s case study to say demonetisation had infused cashless transaction among people and the impact of note ban had eased. The reason cited by Asha for opting online payment mode was that one did not have to pay in round figures. The school teacher told HT that the situation after demonetisation was “not normal yet” and that “villagers still have problems paying through credit and debit cards.” “Many still believe hard cash is everything and nothing will happen without it. We have to forego this notion first. The government will have to give some sops to encourage digital payment to make it popular,” she said, who provides tips to locals on digital payment.

JAYANTHI SF, 29 TIRUPUR (TAMIL NADU)

She won H1 lakh under the government’s Lucky Grahak Yojana and the government quoted her saying that digital modes of payment would help to curb black money in the country. But when HT contacted her, Jayanthi said they used to do cashless transactions extensively before demonetisation and were not sure whether going cashless would curb black money. She said the government should provide more incentives for digital transactions and remove the hurdles. “I am fortunate enough to be able to use things, like a debit card and RuPay, for most of my transactions, but what of people who do not have access to those methods? A digital economy is important, but you should make the transition much more comfortable,” said Jayanthi, who recently enrolled in masters in engineering.

KULDEEP BENIWAL, 32 KARNAL (HARYANA)

The government said this Haryana farmer opted for digital payments after the demonetisation and quoted him saying that scrapping of high-value notes have given enough reasons for everyone to shift to cashless as it was “safe” and “convenient”. A winner of ~1 lakh, Beniwal told HT that he has not visited his bank since November 20 and made most transactions using his mobile phone. “All payments made to my labourers, my child’s school fees and even grocery stores was made through my online modes,” he said. Kuldeep, who dropped out of school after his father’s death, said the farming community can go cashless provided they got necessary incentives and awareness.