As the country celebrates the first anniversary of demonetisation, students, working professionals and housewives, who went through a very tough time, claimed to be benefited by the move. “The move has technically educated us and now, we don’t have to visit kiosks to pay phone, electric, and water bills. We prefer digital payment options to pay, which saves time and does not involve cash,” they said.
Remembering the chaos that followed after note ban, Manish Goswami, who hails from western Uttar Pradesh and is preparing for competitive examinations in the city, said that he cannot forget those days. I used to stand in queues outside ATMs for hours and returned back empty handed.
“I have started using Paytm and other online modes of payment to avoid rush after that episode. I pay all my bills online and even when I am shopping,” he said.
Amit Yadav, who works in a multinational company, in full praise for demonetisation, said that the decision was a step in the right direction to remove counterfeit currency from the market. “I have been paying my bills using Internet banking. I even order fruits and vegetables online by paying from my E-wallet”. He added, “Online transaction is the easiest way of conducting business. I even convince my friends to transact via Paytm or transfer funds using Internet banking. Certainly, I am in favour of hassle-free cashless transactions. It should be promoted,” he said.
“I used to prefer cashless transactions even before the move was announced. But cash crisis post-demonetisation forced me to place orders online even for basic daily needs. Now, it has become a habit to use Paytm and other E-wallet modes of any payment,” said Siddharth Mishra, a former employee with the DRDO.
“I turned this problem into an opportunity and adopted the digital way of life. It is safe and time saving,” Mishra said.
Pooja Kumari, a housewife and a resident of Uttam Nagar, said that my husband taught me how to place orders on e-commerce websites after the move was announced and since then, I have been opting for online shopping.
Recalling the bad days post-demonetisation, Prachi Bansal, a resident of north Delhi’s Outram lane, said that I had to run from pillar to post to get cash. Sometimes, I spent the whole night searching for a working ATM. “It’s good that things are back on track and I have been using the Internet banking facility to make payments,” she said.