When it is all on the cards

As the effects of demonetisation linger on, cash-based transactions continue to be on a low. The confusing situation of how to go about daily activities without hard cash has been the biggest question of the day.

Not everyone can function through online wallets, says Roopa Rajgopal, who is self-employed. “From the ‘autorickshawallah’ to small shopkeepers, who do not have card-swiping machines, a lot of people are going to struggle with these improvisations. If one aims to make such huge changes, then they need to happen from the grassroot level. The common man has to educated about online and bank transactions,” says Roopa.

Special schemes or offers have to be encouraged to make ‘cashless transactions’ a reality. “While using public transport, we need to pay the fare with cash. In other countries, one can do these transactions online or use online wallets or travel cards, but that isn’t the state here,” she says. She adds that there should be a proper demarcation about where and how much this rule should apply.

The obstacles are many, says Usha Murthy, a homemaker, who wonders how one can use online wallets or debit or credit cards to do transactions with local vendors. “Though it would have been easier to do business with cards and not carry cash, when dealing with hawkers, this is not a possibility. Even with the Rs 2,000 notes that have been released, making payments is a big issue, since  one is not able to get change in return,” says Usha.

She adds that there are also some places which levy a small charge for doing transactions through a card-swiping machine. “This is a manipulation of one’s money. Also, how does one pay small businesses or shops. Going to only hypermarkets does not work every time and also this would affect small vendors a lot,” adds Usha.

Though a major population of the city constitutes young professionals, not everyone does payments and transactions online, says Subhash Nairy, a condiments dealer.

“Many of them do not use smartphones or online applications. When people are not aware of such platforms, how can all transactions go cashless. Some of the small vendors I deal with do not want money deposited into their bank accounts and deal with cash only. For cashless transactions to happen, the basic system has to be changed,” he says.

Subhash adds that during this ‘cash crunch’, even autorickshaws booked through mobile applications or online wallets refuse to ply. “They also need to fill in their vehicles with fuel, which cannot be done at all places via credit and debit cards,” he adds.

Darshan Karthik, an autorickshaw driver, is baffled by the whole idea of cashless transactions. “How will I get the vehicle fixed or maintained? Going entirely cashless isn’t a possibility. There are many shops where when purchasing small amounts of oil, a debit or credit card can’t be used. At many card-swiping machines in shops, a minimal amount of Rs 200 or above has to be billed,” says Darshan. He says that many of his friends do not even have bank accounts and adds that introduction of a system where there is a governing body for autorickshaw drivers, which manages the payments online etc, would be a good idea.

The elderly who aren’t used to working with smartphones or computers will also get affected, says Arathi Ashok, a retired bank professional, from Malleswaram.

“Though I have worked with a bank, even I get confused when I check for details online. Many of my friends do not trust online transactions and do not have online banking,” voices Arathi. Steps like awareness campaigns and making daily services available online, have to be done before a decision to go cashless is brought into effect, she adds.