Cashless Economy or Cashless Digital Economy

If we flip the papers of history books we may find incidents and stories mentioned about Cashless Economy.

A section of a book - "Gonds of the Central Indian Highland" has been highlighted here to show how cashless economy was documented in the history books.

Ahirs in most areas of the Satpura mountains stay together with Gonds, but in seperate villages as long as there are adequate open grazing grounds in the protected forest areas. They do not keep cattle like the rest of the farmers. Large herds of cattle, several thousands in number, stay with the group. They are cowherds and only a few buffaloes are kept by them sometimes. They are unwilling to do any kind of agriculture; and they cannot participate in hunting activities. They assert that they do not eat any kind of meat. They are willing to spend only a few days in a year in thier homes; on the whole, in their well constructed villages. They sleep in the open in the forests in spite of frequent attacks of panthers on their cattle. They are impervious to inclement weather. They have created definite traditions, and they are individualistic, self assertive and yet mild and peaceful. Research workers and social workers associated with this study have spent a long time with them. A nursery school was created for their children; but it had to be closed down because even women and children went away into the forests with their animals for very long periods of time. They were given a Swedish milk seperator by the block development officer; but they were quite happy with the kho or kind of cheese they make, and some clarified butter. Efforts have not been made to provide them with fixed grazing grounds, or educate them in stall-feeding, controlled pasturing, agriculture, and other economic activities to supplement their meagre income.

They were hardly having any cash, or using cash in their economic activities. Till very recently, they did not have adequate interest in the use of money. When visiting their village, I noticed a huge amount of cattle manure near the house of one of the ahirs. Since our farm needed large quantities of manure, I requested them to permit a few truckloads to be taken to a distance of fifteen miles up the "ghat". Ever obliging and helpful, the Ahir readily agreed. Asked to name a fair price, he requested that in return of five truckloads of manure he may be givem one kerosene lantern, an electric torch, and a mattress to sit upon. He refused to accept money in cash.

Three years later, a number of Ahirs have been persuaded to accept Rs.10 per truckload, and to realise the importance and value of money as wells as manure. If they had a motor truck of their own, their manure could get them large amount of money.

-Shared from internet resource.