AP CM asks officials to explore ways to encourage cashless

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to take Kenya and Nigeria as models and explore ways to encourage cashless transactions here in the wake of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

He also asked them to take steps to make available maximum number of Point of Sale (PoS) machines for swiping of credit and debit cards at Rythu Bazaars, cinema halls, petrol pumps and other small business establishments.

The Chief Minister held an emergency meeting with senior bureaucrats here tonight and reviewed the situation arising out of the demonetisation.

He directed the district Collectors to constantly monitor the situation and ensure that more PoS machines were installed.

To tide over the problem of lower denomination currency, the temples should deposit their collections in banks on a daily basis, Chandrababu said.

Steps should be taken to ensure smaller denomination notes were available in rural areas as well, he added.

The Chief Minister directed the state Finance Secretary to go and meet RBI officials in Mumbai to ensure expeditious delivery of the new Rs 500 notes to the state, an official statement said.

PTI