Demonetization is the most trending topic post banning the higher denomination notes (500, 1000) by our honorable Prime Minister to eliminate fake currency notes and black money. Initially I was under the impression that it is a bold move towards corruption and black money but later realized that it would have been a bold move only if it was preceded by few steps, Moreover this step is just a temporary solution leading nowhere. The PM also wants to make India a digital or cashless economy by spreading the mantra "Go Cashless". In my experience following that will lead you in trouble not by non-government related entities but by government related entities.
During the demonetization period I made a trip to Delhi with enough cash to spend at non digital places like tea stall, food etc... I planned to pay digital at the hotel we stay assuming they transact more amount but to our surprise the tea stall and the tender coconut stall had paytm but the government based hotels and food stalls, the so called "Bhavans" didn't have a card swiping machine.
Off late, I faced an incident which made me badly write this blog against the Go cashless mantra is because the execution of it failed miserably and it leads common people in trouble though they want to support the anti-corruption and digital economy badly. The incident goes like this, I had parked my bike in no parking where there was no sign of no parking. Leaving that issue as secondary, since it was no parking the bike was seized by the police. When I reached the place to get my seized bike back there was no police there. Few non-government officials said that the fine amount is ₹750. They also mentioned that need we need to wait a lot if we have to pay the fine and the other option is to give ₹500 and take the bike without fine receipt. My motive was that if I had parked incorrectly I will pay to the government and there is no necessity to pay these guys. After half an hour to 45 minutes wait the police had come and I gave my card to pay the fine, 750 is not the amount to be carried in pocket if we have to “go cashless”. To my surprise he had no swiping machine and he said fine has to be paid by cash only. I had ₹730 with me but not ₹750 so I asked if something can be done as nearby ATMs are not working due to demonetization. To my shock the police asked me to give ₹500 non-government people and take the bike which I didn't want to do. Even the non-government guys said that I am just short of ₹20 if something can be adjusted. The police shamelessly asked if that guy can compensate the ₹20 and went for the next round making us wait again.
My point is that they get so many ₹500’s without taking receipt can’t they adjust ₹20 and give a receipt? What if we don't have ₹500 by cash as well? Finally had no other option but to pay 500 and get my bike. Then I understood that the police deliberately comes late and gets a share from the non-billed ₹500s. So many ₹500s are converted to black money like this.
Do you think demonetization will end these activities? If a police is standing there always with a swiping machine then we can go cashless else how can you expect us to go cashless? When the government related transactions are not digitalized then how do you foresee India as a cashless or digitalized economy?
Please give it a thought and start the work from your end and not just ask people to go cashless and end in trouble. Please digitalize government transactions by providing swiping machine wherever needed.
