A Maharashtra villages takes the lead in transforming India

Mumbai: A nondescript village in Maharashtra is the first place in the country to go cash-less, a long cherished desire of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme was launched by state minister for finance Sudhir Mungantiwar on thursday by purchasing a few commodities through his card.

While others are debating whether the scheme is good or not, the village , Dhasai lived by over 10,000 people in Thane district, has taken the lead. In a pioneering effort , 150 traders in the village have got swiping machines installed which will be used for purchases. Currency notes or coins will be a thing of he past.

The village is a trade centre and makes available goods to many neighbouring villages. It accounts for trade worth Rs one crore every day, Villagers were experiencing a lot of problems often due to cash crunch at the only bank in the area which was located at a distance of 15 killometres.

A non-government organisation (NGO) stepped in to ease the situation. Luckily for the villagers, the government announced demonetisation policy and some manufacturers and banks offered to provide card swiping machines. After necessary training the traders got the machines installed and switched over to the new mode of receiving payments. Forty swipe machines have been provided to the village by Bank Of Baroda, a public sector unit.

The NGO had, earlier, helped villagers in opening accounts under the Jan-Dhan scheme. Most of them are now bank customers and have been provided debit cards.

The development has attracted people jn the adjoining areas and some of them have applied for these cards. Dhasai may an eye-opener for others including people in the urban areas who are opposed to the scheme for one reason or the other.