Bengaluru has a mixed response to digital transactions for small purchases.
The digital divide is having its impact on the way Indians look at a cashless society ahead. Those comfortable with online transactions did not face as much of the burden of the cash crunch as those for whom hard currency is the only thing they use to buy and sell. Bengaluru, India's IT capital, has had a mixed response to digital transactions for small purchases.
Shravana, a vegetable vendor in Cox Town told NDTV he had his doubts about whether his customers would ever pay digitally.
"Poor people come here, they may not use the cards," he said.
But with change being such a challenge, there are still those who are embracing the inevitable. The city's Russell Market dates back to the colonial era - but more and more swipe machines are being seen and used here.
Idris Choudhary, President of the Russell Market Shop Keepers Association, said, "We planned from our association. We have approached bank people, Axis Bank.... Luckily the bank people helped traders - they have not taken deposit of 10 000 rupees... We have 500 shops here. Till now around 20 machines have arrived."
It looks as the city's educated consumers are encouraging vendors to get with the programme.
Dr Satish was buying vegetables when he spoke to NDTV. He said, "I went to a mutton stall and I asked regarding a swiping machine. He told, since banks are busy at present - he has applied for swiping machine - within one month he will be getting to get swiping machine. I told him to get swiping machine, otherwise I will not purchase with him."
Raj Subramaniam who describes himself as crafting solutions for the digitally underserved at his Bengaluru-based startup Paisool said, "Dominated by small neighbourhood stores, called kiranas, almost 90% of grocery passes through them. And less than 5% of such stores accept cards or other cashless payment instruments. Consequently, these small merchants have been among the hardest hit after demonetization, with revenues reportedly down to 30% to 50%. However, all these arguments take nothing away from the enormous benefits of a cashless economy."
The road to a cashless economy is a bumpy one, even in India's start-up capital.