We are at a point in time when almost every Indian possesses a phone. So why are we still facing problems like non-payment of fees by vendors in Ponda?
It has been reported that the municipality issued a strict warning that vendors who had not paid their dues would be evicted. The Ponda Vyapari Sanghatana, on the other hand, has claimed that they made three attempts to deposit the fees in the municipality treasury and the same was rejected. An issue of this type could have been easily settled provided there is willingness on the part of the vendor to pay and political will on the part of the municipality to collect. In the digital age
there is no need for a sopo collector and all transactions can
be moved on line. Almost every vendor has a mobile phone
and migration to the new system can be seamless. However,
for this to happen the municipality has to take the initiative
to install the computer system and link all vendors to it. This
would not only eliminate middlemen but also bring in much
needed revenue for the municipality. The question is, can the
municipality muster the political will to bypass middlemen?
