UDUPI: Come January 16, staff members of Kota Thattu Gram Panchayat in Udupi district will accept only cashless method of payment. Kota Thattu GP embraced digitisation with the full cooperation of all residents and henceforth water tax, house tax, building licence fee and trade licence fee will be accepted from people through swiping machines.
There are 1,032 families in Kota Thattu and 200 families did not have debit cards. Moreover, 20 families did not have bank accounts. Members of the gram panchayat decided to educate these families, visited their houses and ensured that all are given debit cards and opened bank accounts for them, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojari told Express.
Secretary of Kota Thattu GP Meera R told Express the panchayat generates annual income up to `20 lakh as tax money. They will not accept tax payment in cash anymore.