Akodara: India's First Digital Village

People are still queuing up at bank counters to deposit scrapped currency notes of 500 and 1,000 rupees or withdraw cash after the Centre's 8th of November demonetisation move. But let's tell you about a village where there's no such rush over cash. Akodara is a small village in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district which enjoys the distinction of being the country's first digital village it has also

gone completely cashless.  Situated 90 kms away from Ahmedabad. Sabarkantha district's Akodara is the country's first digital village.

It's a small community of 1,200 people..and while most of the country had been busy exchanging or depositing scrapped currency notes..or withdrawing cash for their purchases after the centre's demonetisation move it barely created a ripple in Akodara. 

Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the village was adopted and developed by the ICICI Foundation as a digitised village with a rural branch of the bank be it a purchase of 10 rupees or 10,000..all transactions are carried out without cash changing hands through sms, net-banking or debit cards. 

Villagers say Prime Minister Modi's demonetisation move will reduce black money in the economy..Most women in the village are involved in the dairy business The govt's drive against black money and corruption also has huge support among Akodara's youth. 

Clearly Akodara is a stand out example of how smooth and worry free life can be without cash. The rest of country also needs to digital and cashless for all to reap the benefits of being free from black money and corruption.