Efforts to push cashless economy in rural, urban districts

Warangal: Warangal Urban, Rural and Jayashanker Bhupalpalli district administrations are making efforts to promote cashless transactions in their respective districts in view of the cash crunch caused due to the Centre’s demonetisation move.

One mandal in each district is selected to achieve cashless transactions on pilot project basis. Hasanparthy mandal in Warangal Urban district, Venkatapur mandal in Bhupalpalli district and Narsampet town in Warangal Rural district have been chosen for the purpose.

In Warangal Urban, District Collector Amrapali Kata has directed the officials to promote cashless transactions in both rural areas and Warangal city simultaneously. A committee with department officials concerned was formed to see that all those working in private and government offices open bank accounts by December 17.

A survey has been launched in 11 villages in Hasanparthy mandal collecting details of bank account holders, numbers of business establishments like kirana shops and petty vendors. Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) staff, MPDOs and revenue staff are engaged in the process.

Similarly efforts are being made to encourage electronic transactions in Venkatapur mandal of Bhupalpalli district. District Collector A Murali recently a meeting with IKP staff, revenue of bank officials and asked them to conduct a survey in 10 villages of the mandal to collect bank account holders and how number of swipe machines being used.

The district administration has decided to provide bank accounts and Debit or RuPay cards to all the villagers in the Venkatapur mandal with a population of nearly 40,000 persons. Since majority of the residents in the villages are illiterate the exercise will take at least a month, informed the Collector.

At a recent awareness meeting organised by district administration in Narsampet, nearly 500 traders have applied for card swiping machines (electronic point of sale (PoS) terminals). “Entire Narsampet will be transformed into a cashless town in phased manner,” said Civil Supplies Corporation chairman P Sudarshan Reddy.

He told The Hans India that after the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, the corporation has made 100 per cent electronic payments. About 1.72 lakh farmers are paid Rs 11.18 crores towards food grains procured from them.

It is being planned to set up micro-ATMs at ration shops, informed Joint Collector M Haritha. Meanwhile, the NPDCL and GWMC have both planning to procure swiping machines to collect electricity bills and municipal taxes. The NPDCL have submitted requests to the banks seeking 400 machines.

During the last one month in Warangal city, different banks have received more than 6,000 applications from traders seeking the e-POS terminals. However, it may take time longer than expected to procure and provide the machines to the traders, sources in public sector banks informed.