SRIKAKULAM: In an attempt to bail out the small traders who were losing business owing to cash crunch, the authorities launched the e-PoS facility at the Srikakulam rythu bazaar on December 1. Not even a fortnight has passed since the move, the e-PoS terminals have developed technical snags. At present, four of the five terminals are not in working condition.
The authorities have provided five e-PoS terminals to the rythu bazaar on December 1. But, those terminals start developing technical snag from the Day One. The authorities gave three terminals to the grocery shops and the rest to vegetable vendors. DRDA authorities supplied the PoS machines to the grocery shops, while the MEPMA officials supplied the terminals to vegetable vendors at the rythu bazaar.
The terminals installed at the grocery shops being managed by the Zilla Mahila Samakhya became defunct in a few days after the inauguration.
“MEPMA authorities asked us to operate an e-mandi at rythu bazaar and provided a terminal. Since it was launched on December 1, it started developing technical snags and it stopped working after a a few days,” said ZMS members Chinnamma and Swathi.
Two more terminals were provided to vegetable vendors, but both have become non-functional. Same is the case with the one given to a kirana store.
Only the terminal provided to Venkata Raman Kirana shop is working, but not flawlessly. “The machine takes at least 15 to 20 minutes for completing one transaction. Poor network also adds to the woes. The delay leaves my customers irked,” said Prabhakar Rao, owner of Venkata Ramana Kirana shop.
Further, the machines do not accept master card, he said, adding that since inauguration, he had made transactions amounting of `13,000. He urged the authorities to provide free Wi-fi connection instead of linking the PoS terminal to the mobile phone.
Admitting the inconvenience, ZMS manager Babu Rao said that they were planning to change the terminals. “Earlier, we placed an indent for PoS machines with Andhra Bank, but most of the machines have become defunct. Now, we have placed the order for 150 more terminals with the Bank of Baroda. We will replace the old terminals at the rythu bazaar,” Rao added.