It’s been two years since demonetisation came into effect in India in November 2016. Many places are still finding it difficult to adopt a cashless payment system.

Case in point is the village Badjhiri in Madhya Pradesh, which once became the first digital village in the state. But things are not the same here anymore. According to a report by TOI, cash transactions have become a usual thing here just like it used to be two years back.

TOI

Back in 2016, the village was adopted by the Bank of Baroda, and soon it was declared a digital village. The bank also distributed more than 12 POS machines to the shopkeepers all across the village. 

When TOI asked a shopkeeper about paying by card, he said;

“Use plastic in Bhopal. Here, only cash payment option is available.”

When asked about his POS machine, he replied:

“I do not know where I have put my POS machine. For more than a year, shopkeepers stopped using it. If you still insist, I will not sell cashless.”
NDTV

Another shopkeeper explained the reason behind not using cashless payment system,

“Who will pay 2% charge on the bill? Are you ready? There is hardly anyone who makes purchases by card here. Most buyers are villagers, who can’t be forced to pay 2% extra.”

As of now, none of the 30 shops in the village have a POS machine. 

BoB Bhopal Regional Manager, RC Yadav said:

“Awareness about the cashless payment is a big challenge in Badjhiri. Unfortunately, camps were not organised for long time there. We will soon resume such camps.”
Livemint

Two years down the lane, the question still looms, whether we have been able to reap the intended benefits of demonetisation or not.