Tall claims of “Digital-India” have apparently fallen flat at Incredible India’s “Paryatan Parv” organised in the heart of national Capital’s Rajpath Lawns by the Tourism Ministry as many stalls showcasing the diversity of India and selling various indigenous products don’t have the facility of digital or e-transaction and are accepting only cash as mode of payment.
However, most of the visitors in the Parv were ready to purchase items using their debit or credit card.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Suman Billa told The Pioneer, “We have advised everybody to have swipe machines, however, some of the TRIFED stalls and others do not have it. The swipe machines are linked with the bank accounts and it is on the part of shopkeepers to have it and the Government doesn’t make it available to them. However we are working on the issue and it would be resolved soon.”
Since the stalls don’t have Point of Sales (PoS) machines for e-transactions or swapping of the bank cards, many visitors who do not carry cash are facing problem. Adding to their woes is the fact that ATMs are not easily accessible in the area and neither any mobile ATM van can be seen.
Many of the stalls selling handlooms, handicrafts and other products from all across India do not have the facility of e-transaction and are accepting only cash. Though some of the shops or stalls which do not have any e-mode of payment said they manage to accept payment through Paytm.
A shopkeeper named Nizamuddin running handicraft stall of Uttar Pradesh selling world-famous carpet from Bhadohi and other handicraft products said he cannot accept card payment as he doesn’t have the PoS facility.
He said it is not his shop alone but almost all shops of Uttar Pradesh do not have e-payment facility. Similarly, stalls both of handicrafts and handlooms like DC Rajasthan, DC Odisha, DC Jammu & Kashmir, DC handicraft Delhi don’t have the facility of PoS payment due to which many buyers were left high and dry.
There were about 15 stalls of Tribes India organised with the help of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) while most of the stalls didn’t have the swipe machine or the PoS, the rest said they have the facility of e-payment through swipe machine.
“On one hand the Government is promoting ‘Digital India’ and ask us to switch over to the e-mode of payments using BHIM App and other modes while on other hands in its own fest organised by Ministry of Tourism many stalls do not have PoS machines or other e-payment modes.
Common people usually do not carry much cash in their wallet these days as everywhere one can find digital transaction,” said Nishant Sharma, a resident of Faridabad who had come along with his family. He said he is a bit disappointed on seeing that many shops from where he wanted to purchase a few articles don’t have the e-payment facility.
While Nimish, who came from Hauz Khas, appreciated the initiative of the Central Government and Tourism Department calling the “Paryatan-Parv” a conglomerate of different culture and diversity of various Indian States at one place, he said he had no idea that many shopkeepers don’t have e-payment facility and hence did not carry cash with him and even didn’t found any ATM or mobile ATM van in the national fest.
“There are too many things to buy. The cost of items is really cheap but due non-availability of swipe machines at most of the stalls is the biggest issue. Even there is no ATM machine in the vicinity. They should have made proper arrangements before organising such an event,” said Radhika, a resident of Mayur Vihar phase-2.
“I liked a Rajasthani saree for my mother which costs around Rs 1,500. I didn’t have cash so I asked the shopkeeper to swipe my card. First, he said he doesn’t have a swipe machine but after a few minutes he made arrangements for accepting payment through Paytm but I refused as I have not installed Paytm on my phone,” complains Devesh Verma, who had come from Alwar.
However, some of the shopkeepers who have e-payment facility made brisk business as many of the shoppers who were disheartened after being denied e-payment mode in many stalls thronged theirs.
Shikha Das at her handicraft stall, selling items made in Assam said that nearly 90 per cent of customers who visited her stall have paid through the card using the PoS machine while only 10 per cent prefer cash. She said her daily sale is somewhere between 26 and 30 thousand rupees.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in collaboration with other Central Ministries, State Governments and Stakeholders has organised a “Paryatan Parv” across the country from September 16 to 27. The “Paryatan Parv” is being organised with the objective of drawing focus on the benefits of tourism, showcasing the cultural diversity of the country and reinforcing the principle of “Tourism for All”. The Paryatan Parv shall conclude with the World Tourism Day celebrations on 27 September 2018.
