As the financial year begins, the Department of Post, Government of India, which is also known as India Post will allow debit card machines to come to your doorstep!
Many of us are familiar with the postman in khaki, who cycles across neighbourhoods, delivering letters and important documents.
Now, this postman will also carry along a PoS (Point of Sale) machine. This step is being taken by India Post to digitalise payments and bring micro-ATMs closer to the homes.
Although access to ATMs or banks is not difficult in cities, people in rural areas that have to travel long distances to access both options.
Keeping this in mind, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) had opened its branches in Raipur and Ranchi in February 2017. Their aim was financial inclusion that included transactions such as payment, deposits and more. You can read all about IPPB in our article here.
This service also included equipping postmen with micro-ATMs that promoted digital payment of bills in some cases.
With this new move, you will be able to pay for your parcels to your postman with your debit card!
The project is set to roll out in the next few weeks, and the postman will be able to accept payments over the next three years. The Indian branch of Lyra Networks, a French payments company, will develop and connect the network of machines.
Christophe Mariette, the chairman of Lyra Networks, told Financial Express, “This is a massive project as it will entail a PoS machine for every postman. We are going to ensure the connectivity for these machines. This project is vital for digitisation because now everybody will be able to pay with a card.”
You may also like: Your Neighbourhood Post-Office Will Soon Be a India Post Payments Bank!
Usually, a PoS machine may cost anything between Rs 6000–10000, but since this project will require approximately 1.5-2.1 lakh machines, they will presumably be sold at a cheaper rate.
Along with the machine itself, other factors such as proper internet connectivity for them to work, and logistical support also needs to be taken into consideration.
From a doorstep micro-ATM to digital payments upon receiving a parcel—these certainly are developments to look forward to. The daakiya is no more restricted to daak!
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Featured image for representational purpose. Source.
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