ZEE JLF '18 set to go cashless with prepaid cards

The 11th edition of ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) is all set to exhibit a platform of cashless transactions in a bid to present what 'Digital India' should be. Visitors coming to attend this 'Kumbh of literature' will be given the facility of prepaid cards which they can use to shop or avail any paid services in the festival premises.

This is first time that the organisers are making prepaid cards available. Visitors will be able to collect cards and recharge them accordingly at several counters in the festival. The card, however, comes with caps — Rs 10,000 is the maximum amount that one can recharge while the minimum amount is capped at Rs 100. An additional amount of Rs 100 will be livied as security charge which will be reimbursed to the visitor when she/he returns the card to the counter. In case of lost or damage to the card the security amount will be fortified.

Sources with Teamwork — the agency that is handling management affairs of the event — said the prepaid cards will resemble ATM cards and could be used for having tea, dining, or purchasing books etc at the stalls. "The cards will be available at counters which are being set at the entrance of Diggi Palace as well as lawns inside the venue. With such cards, the transaction will take less time and will be hassle free since there will be no dealing with cash. Hopefully, the prepaid cards will make it more convenient for visitors," said a volunteer associated with Teamwork.

He added that kiosk or shop operators will have card swapping machines for making payment. So far the transactions for merchandise in ZEE JLF were mostly in cash. At certain counters PoS machines were installed to accept Debit/ Credit cards. With the debut of prepaid cards ZEE JLF goes to become a cashless platform which is a one of top priority of the government agencies under the Digital India campaign.