Daman, Diu aim to become first cashless region in country

SURAT: At least 190 teams of trained volunteers visited over 25,000 households in the Union territory of Daman and Diu this weekend to educate their members about the benefits of cashless transactions. The administration of the Union territory wants to make Daman and Diu the country’s first cashless region.
Daman and Diu has nearly 60,000 households. In Daman, 140 teams are visiting houses while 50 teams are active in Diu in the drive to create awareness among the people about cashless transactions.Each team comprises 10 members and they have been joined by around 2,000 people, who on Sunday covered 11,000 households.
The project was launched by Praful Patel, administrator of Daman and Diu, on Saturday at Daman in the presence of volunteers, bank officials, government officers and residents. “I am surprised that the teams approached nearly 11,000 households on the very first day. The volunteers explain the procedures to the residents and then take their signatures after ensuring that they have understood the system properly,” Patel said.
The volunteers have been educated about seven different methods of doing cashless transactions. The volunteers share the information to residents by giving a live demonstration.
“The volunteers are supposed to explain to the people how the mobile app and other cashless transaction method work. They help residents by carrying out a cashless transaction using their mobile or credit/debit cards. The residents are also encouraged to try it in the presence of volunteers so that they can comfortably use it for future transactions,” Patel added.
The focus of the campaign is on around 80,000 labourers and their families who are employed in different industries located in Daman. They are also being made aware on how to use their keypad phone to make payments to utilities and beneficiaries.