This story is from February 11, 2020

Cashless service at Kaduru GP great success

Cashless service at Kaduru GP great success
Udupi: Cashless transactions, introduced at Kaduru gram panchayat as a pilot project in 2018-19, is a big hit. Following its success, the government has ordered implementation of the same at 158 GPs in the district. It will later be extended to all GPs spread across the state.
For the record, Kaduru GP is also the recipient of Sansad Adharsh Gram Award.
Srinivas Rao, chief planning officer of the zilla panchayat, said: “UDMA Technology has introduced a software, under which people can make cashless transaction even in the absence of internet. The app enables people to use any language of their choice. Villagers not having smartphones have the option to transact through their phones.”
The pilot project has collected 78% of the tax online from the GP. Through the app, transactions with regard to collecting house and other tax, water and electricity bills, and solid-liquid resource management (SLRM) changes can be made. The district administration has submitted a report on the same to state government. Based on the report findings, the government consented to extend the project to all GPs in district. The same will be implemented in stagewise, he added.
Mahesh, panchayat development officer of Kaduru GP, said former DC Priyanka Mary Francis had referred Kaduru for the cashless transactions project. The GP comprises Kaduru and Naduru villages having 1,106 houses. Of them, 780 households had paid taxes online last year.
UDMA technology had launched the software ‘Yuva Pay’ for cashless transactions. The currently available online app charges 2-3% of the amount. However, the company collects only 0.5%. Also, cashless transaction is not made mandatory here. People could also pay taxes/ bills by personally at the panchayat office or at some shops.
Though the system does not need internet or smartphone, the transactions need a mobile network to happen. But many places in these villages do not have network due to the absence of mobile towers. “Also, an online payment receipt is not considered as a valid proof for payment. So we need to distribute the receipts though bill collectors,” he added.
In the next phase, cashless transactions will be extended to GPs covering Aruru, Kukehalli, Cherkadi, Inanje, Kumbashi, Thekkatte, Hosadu, Trasi, Maravathe, Vandse, Warranga, Erlapadi, Bailuru and others.
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