Hyderabad: Ibrahimpur in Siddipet district on Monday become the first cashless village in the state. The village was adopted by irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, and is part of his Siddipet Assembly constituency.
The village was formally announced as a ‘cashless transaction village’ after Mr Harish Rao sold ration rice, sugar and other essential commodities to five beneficiaries at a ration shop in the village, who purchased their quota by using debit cards.
Mr Rao said Ibrahimpur had achieved the distinction of being the second village in the country to go cashless after Akodara village in Gujarat. Ibrahimpur has a population of 1,200 and the officials opened bank accounts for everyone and distributed debit cards. The point-of-sale swipe machines have been distributed to all traders to enable cashless transactions.
Mr Rao had announced a reward of '10 lakh to any village which becomes the first to go cashless in Siddipet constituency; it will be given to Ibrahimpur soon, officials said. The first person to make the cashless transaction in the village was Ms Muthavva, a woman, who purchased 12-kg rice.
Speaking at the event, Mr Harish Rao said, “This village has become a role model for the entire state in adopting cashless transactions. I am even more happy that this village falls under my constituency and has been adopted by me.”
The village also has the distinction of having 100 per cent water harvesting pits and open defecation free.
