Swipe Machine Arrives With Pomp Day After PM Suggests Cashless Parliament

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah called it the "prettiest swipe machine in all the land," in a tongue in cheek assessment of the floral arrangements that surrounded Parliament's first ever point of sale machine, which was installed in the canteen today and was inaugurated by Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anant Kumar. 

The machine, on which credit and debit cards are swiped to make payments, arrived only a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the effort to make India a cashless economy should begin from Parliament.   
  
It was an instant hit, especially on social media, where many joked about the marigold and roses that surrounded the machine and ridiculed the extravagant reception accorded to it. "Nice decorations," tweeted Mr Abdullah.
 The cash crunch that has followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes has not spared people in Parliament. The complex has three canteens which serve more than 500 people every day during sessions, including visitors, security staff and journalists apart from lawmakers. Many have been short of cash to pay at the canteens and at a counter that sells books and souvenirs, during the winter session which began last week.  

Congress lawmaker Raj Babbar said he borrowed 100 rupees from his driver to buy tea at the Parliament canteen as he had run out of cash and credit and debit cards were not accepted. 

Others who had the new Rs. 2,000 notes were not able to buy things because the canteens were low on change. There were long queues at the ATMs in Parliament House. 

PM Modi was addressing BJP lawmakers when asked them to help people, including those who work on their staff, to understand digital transactions, pitching for a beginning to made from Parliament. 

The swipe machine was ordered immediately after, sources said.