India Digital Economy WEB
Metadata
- India Digital Economy WEB
- August 17, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: INDIA DIGITAL ECONOMY HEADLINE: India’s Vast Rural Areas Plug into Digital Economy TEASER: As internet access and affordable smartphones reach villages in India, small stalls and shops are switching to digital payments PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 08/17/2022 at BYLINE: Anjana Pasricha DATELINE: NEW DELHI VIDEOGRAPHER: Rakesh Kumar PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: Lisa Daniels, Salem Solomon VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __TV X RADIO __ TRT: 3:04 VID APPROVED BY: KE TYPE: EDITOR NOTES: There is an accompanying web article.)) ((INTRO)) [[In India, an initiative to bring internet access across the country has helped millions plug into new digital technologies. One of them is a payments system that is transforming the way business is being done in the vast rural areas of the country. Anjana Pasricha has a report.]] ((NARRATOR)) In the past year, there has seen a dramatic transformation in the way customers pay at this village vendor in North India. Instead of cash, they use a simple system that involves scanning a code on a smartphone to make an online payment. ((Nishant Sharma, vegetable stall owner)) ((in Hindi)) “Even if someone buys only half a kilogram of vegetables, he can pay digitally. We can do the smallest of transactions.” ((NARRATOR)) As internet access and affordable smartphones reach lower income groups in India, small stalls and shops are switching to digital payments, much like big city stores. ((NARRATOR)) But instead of credit or debit cards, they use India’s Unified Payment Interface that is cheaper, easier and faster. It involves no merchant fees and can be used for the smallest of transactions to make instant transfers across bank accounts. ((NARRATOR)) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an Independence Day address that such innovations are bringing benefits to rural areas. ((Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hindi)) ((Mandatory cg: Press Information Bureau)) “Today, 40% of the real-time digital transactions made in the world take place in India.” ((NARRATOR)) The payment system was developed under a government initiative. It is one of the transformational technologies plugging India’s rural areas into the digital age as the country’s huge informal cash-dominated economy switches to online payments. This shop owner says about 70% of his customers have started paying online. It has eased his life. ((Akhilesh Sharma, Medical Shop owner)) “Whenever I open PhonePe or Google Pay app, in my business account all the transactions are done and then I will cut the bill from my system easily. In cash, we have to take cash, I have to count that, and then it is a little long process. Then I have to go to bank, then and submit my money.” ((NARRATOR)) Digital payments boost business by facilitating transactions — like at this village fair. Stall owners no longer worry about keeping money safe. Customers don’t have to carry cash. ((Vikas Sharma, Palampur resident)) ((in Hindi)) “Earlier when I went to a crowded place, I worried about getting my wallet stolen. Now all I need is my phone to make a payment.” ((Manish Dixit, customer)) ((in Hindi)) “I no longer have to think if I have cash. I don’t have to stand in a long line at the ATM or to a bank.” ((NARRATOR)) There are still gaps to plug — internet speeds can pose a challenge. And while the numbers with internet access have risen to nearly 700 million, many are still offline. But with rapid progress, it may not take long for India’s digital footprint to expand. ((Anjana Pasricha for VOA News, New Delhi))
- Transcript/Script ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: INDIA DIGITAL ECONOMY HEADLINE: India’s Vast Rural Areas Plug into Digital Economy TEASER: As internet access and affordable smartphones reach villages in India, small stalls and shops are switching to digital payments PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 08/17/2022 at BYLINE: Anjana Pasricha DATELINE: NEW DELHI VIDEOGRAPHER: Rakesh Kumar PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: Lisa Daniels, Salem Solomon VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __TV X RADIO __ TRT: 3:04 VID APPROVED BY: KE TYPE: EDITOR NOTES: There is an accompanying web article.)) ((INTRO)) [[In India, an initiative to bring internet access across the country has helped millions plug into new digital technologies. One of them is a payments system that is transforming the way business is being done in the vast rural areas of the country. Anjana Pasricha has a report.]] ((NARRATOR)) In the past year, there has seen a dramatic transformation in the way customers pay at this village vendor in North India. Instead of cash, they use a simple system that involves scanning a code on a smartphone to make an online payment. ((Nishant Sharma, vegetable stall owner)) ((in Hindi)) “Even if someone buys only half a kilogram of vegetables, he can pay digitally. We can do the smallest of transactions.” ((NARRATOR)) As internet access and affordable smartphones reach lower income groups in India, small stalls and shops are switching to digital payments, much like big city stores. ((NARRATOR)) But instead of credit or debit cards, they use India’s Unified Payment Interface that is cheaper, easier and faster. It involves no merchant fees and can be used for the smallest of transactions to make instant transfers across bank accounts. ((NARRATOR)) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an Independence Day address that such innovations are bringing benefits to rural areas. ((Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hindi)) ((Mandatory cg: Press Information Bureau)) “Today, 40% of the real-time digital transactions made in the world take place in India.” ((NARRATOR)) The payment system was developed under a government initiative. It is one of the transformational technologies plugging India’s rural areas into the digital age as the country’s huge informal cash-dominated economy switches to online payments. This shop owner says about 70% of his customers have started paying online. It has eased his life. ((Akhilesh Sharma, Medical Shop owner)) “Whenever I open PhonePe or Google Pay app, in my business account all the transactions are done and then I will cut the bill from my system easily. In cash, we have to take cash, I have to count that, and then it is a little long process. Then I have to go to bank, then and submit my money.” ((NARRATOR)) Digital payments boost business by facilitating transactions — like at this village fair. Stall owners no longer worry about keeping money safe. Customers don’t have to carry cash. ((Vikas Sharma, Palampur resident)) ((in Hindi)) “Earlier when I went to a crowded place, I worried about getting my wallet stolen. Now all I need is my phone to make a payment.” ((Manish Dixit, customer)) ((in Hindi)) “I no longer have to think if I have cash. I don’t have to stand in a long line at the ATM or to a bank.” ((NARRATOR)) There are still gaps to plug — internet speeds can pose a challenge. And while the numbers with internet access have risen to nearly 700 million, many are still offline. But with rapid progress, it may not take long for India’s digital footprint to expand. ((Anjana Pasricha for VOA News, New Delhi))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date August 17, 2022 13:44 EDT
- Byline Anjana Pasricha
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America