Hard times call for digital measures. That’s at least what roadside stall owners and vegetable vendors are thinking with the shortage of cash after the demonetisation drive
Manoj Gupta of Santlal Gupta vegetable stall accepts e-cash at his Kalanagar stall. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
Hard times call for digital measures. That’s at least what roadside stall owners and vegetable vendors are thinking with the shortage of cash after the demonetisation drive. A number of small-time traders are exploring electronic modes of accepting cash.
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Salim Noor (right), a jewellery seller at Linking Road, Bandra, has begun accepting payment online. Pic/Satej Shinde
The mobile wallet market is currently estimated at Rs 160 crore. A study revealed that it is likely to hit Rs 30,000 crore by 2020-2021.
However, with the recent decision of the Modi government, more Indians are shifting to online and digital payment patterns.
Dinesh Indulkar, a newspaper vendor from Kalyan’s Rambaug area, says he decided to use Paytm after he found that most of his customers were trying to palm off their Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes when he went to collect his monthly dues.
Also Read: Demonetisation: Rs 21,000 crore put in Jan Dhan bank accounts
“Usually, their bill vary anywhere between Rs 200 to Rs 250, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for me to return the change,” said Indulkar.
“I then decided to use Paytm. Now, most of my customers pay using the app,” he added.
Indulkar said that after he started accepting digital cash, the situation has improved. “But, it will take time to adopt to it,” he said.
Manoj Gupta, a street-side vegetable vendor from Kalanagar, also decided to opt for digital transaction after feeling the cash crunch, owing to the currency notes of the two denominations being pulled out of circulation.
“I was approached by staff from Paytm. On their advice, I installed the app and informed my customers about it. As many of my customers own smartphones, using mobile wallets has becomes convenient for them too,” said Gupta, adding that on a daily basis, at least four to five of his customers opt for online transactions.
In Bandra, many stall owners that line the popular shopping streets, Hill Road and Linking Road, have registered themselves on Paytm, so that they don’t lose customers due to lack of change.
“Post demonetisation, our business suffered badly. We had to struggle to convince customers to buy our products. Now, at least, we can provide our customers with an easy and convenient mode of payment,” said Muhammad Aslam (52), a cloth vendor at Linking Road.
Some shop owners are accepting e-wallet transactions for products that cost as less as Rs 30.
Salim Noor (42), who sells accessories at Linking Road, has placed a board near his stall that reads ‘Paytm accepted’. Noor, who sells products ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 300, says he accepts Paytm transactions for all his wares.
According to Noor, ever since he started accepting digital cash, his customers have started buying more accessories from him.
“If the customer makes the payment online, he/she buys more than three to four items from us. This is profitable for us too,” he said.
Speaking to mid-day, 45-year-old Lala Bhaskar, a customer who paid through e-wallet at Linking Road in Bandra, said, “Almost all the hawkers at these shopping destinations in the tony suburb — Linking Road and Hill Road — are accepting digital cash. Now, we don’t have to scrap items from our shopping list.”
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