Metro means an important and large city; and (or) an underground train system in a large city;
i.e. a metro in a metro. However, the urban spaces, especially the metros have been infamous for
widening socio-economic inequalities. While I am a supporter of cities as they provide
anonymity that allows breaking of entrenched social norms, greater freedom from traditions; and
also a huge fan of metro in metro as it provides decent, safe, affordable and well-connected mass
transit. However, this fandom suffered a slight reduction by today's event.
As the Yellow Line from my home (Azadpur) to office (Civil Lines) is served by scanty crowd
that follows social distancing, I use this facility as travelling by private means is not only
expensive, but time-taking (Delhi traffic!), polluting and doesn't necessarily mean more safe.
Surely, magnitude of human interaction is reduced, however, one tends to get more casual and
careless when travelling in privately. One can be tempted to remove mask and touch aro und
stuff more. But, the thermal screening at the metros keep a temperature check, ensure that people
use hand sanitizer and also sanitize their luggage. Moreover, when in public, people tend to be
more cautious and keep their masks on. I am not preferring public transit over private means, just
praising the efforts to make public transport safe and extending the cautions in cabs.
Now, though I appreciate the DMRC effort towards ensuring safety during this pandemic, but
there are some measures that is brutally blind towards different (especially vulnerable) sections
of the society. As I was declined entry at the metro pass by insufficient balance in my metro
card, I visited the ticket counter to recharge the card. I reached to my wallet to offer cash, but I
was instantly informed that only online transactions are allowed. I was shocked by this
"imposition" of "only" online transaction.
I asked the female operator what would a person do if one doesn't possess a any digital payment
portal. She replied, without shifting a glance from her desktop screen, "ATM card". I wasn't
satisfied and further probed, "what if one doesn't have ATM card?" She looked up to me,
answered in an obvious tone, "aisa toh nahi hoga"(this simply wouldn't be). Exactly! We are
unaware of this section that doesn't have digital payment or ATM cards because we have
systemically removed and excluded them, invisibilising them, rendering us the illusion that
everyone has digital and bank access.
When the metro services resumed in August, the DMRC prided and gained confidence of metro
commuters by switching to cashless and contactless transactions. However, the picture isn't as
rosy as it seems. In absence of online transactions, debit or credit cards can be used but, not
everyone is capable of possessing cards or online transactions. The poor who doesn't have digital
literacy or credibility for debit cards would be unable to fit into this transaction system.
Moreover, one cannot simply enjoy the pleasure of not possessing a phone. It is really a luxury
or fools dream to be phoneless.
Additionally, tokens are not issued and cards have to be purchased. One is forced to make extra
purchase even if they never will use metro again. Instead, tokens could've been issued and
sanitized after its collection. Further, the digital payment or transaction doesn't necessarily
eliminate contact, as its mission is stated. ATM cards are exchanged, digital machine is
presented, receipts offered and very obviously, metro cards given. If so many papers, plastics and
metals exchanged (in case of metro card: exchanged to and fro), then why doesn't cash pass our
"purity" or contactless test?
Since demonetization cash has become our enemy. Black currency is stored in cash. Corruption
and bribery is eased by cash flow. Under the table deals is promoted by cash. This is what we've
been made to believe. But, black money doesn't simply or largely exist in cash. Illegal
transactions can occur over online medium. Digital transactions offer no privacy or anonymity to
a person and they always leave a trace behind, adding to data collection, preferences and
experiences for the corporate to advertise. What about bribery and corruption that occurs through
misuse of power and privilege.
The debate is not against digital transactions. Surely, the benefitted from from Digital transitions flow on several occasions. But, I've also felt fooled when network services are disrupted and my transactions fail. More so when money is deducted and I've to go through extra hassle to reimburse it.
When we have to follow "only" rule, we should be concerned about the upcoming threat. It
seems like a normal or even a miniscule matter. But, the accelerated expansion of this notion at
politics, economics, or society can hamper heterogeneity or diversity to impose homogeneity.
Singularity of diet, dress, desires, gods, career, ambition and processes is dangerous. Not simply
for altruist reasons, but even on practical grounds. The species that didn't cross bred to neglect
diversity and differences have been an easy prey to diseases and extinction.
Even prior to the covid pandemic, the DMRC has initiated efforts to progress to seemingly
"advanced" methods of ticket distribution by installing automated vending machines. This has
been hailed as easy and quick. However, this has the potential of only reducing employed
workforce. When I first encountered this machine last year at Subhash Nagar Metro, it was the
only means of getting a metro ticket: there was no counter. As an educated person, this first
encounter was rather daunting. Luckily, after I wasted a few minutes I got the ticket. Filled with
a major sense of achievement, I was rushing towards the metro when I was stopped by a
bewildered aged couple. I wasted some more time by helping this couple by a display of my
recently learned skill. Oh how I wished that there was a ticket counter that could have eased and
quickened this process, excusing us off of this unnecessary harassment.
The vulnerability is even higher among the poor, illiterate and old. They are actually wary of
machines as it provides little scope of negotiation and presents higher risk of money being taken
without discharge of ticket, overcharging or wrong destination. Even if technology is fool-proof,
humans are not. The feeling of vulenrability and powerlessness makes these people rightly
suspicious of technology with no assistance from fellow humans.
Obviously, digital literacy of online payment or vending machines is not rocket science, but the
problem arises when a. it is the only means b. no human assistance available c. vulnerable to
digital discripancies such as network issues. Digital transcations should be added as an
alternative, expanding our bundle of choices, rather than becoming the one and only way of
doing things.
As the argument can be made that digital transactions cannot guarantee a magical solution to
poverty and equality, therefore, digital transactions shouldn't be deemed so. My only problem is
lack of alternative. Imposition of one, that gradually (or suddenly!) becomes normalised.
Imposition doesn't feel so because most can go digital as they have option, but there are people
who cannot afford to choose between digital and non-digital. Slowly, such non-digital people are
erased from our shared public spaces such as metro, and gradually from our experience and
concern and eventually from our feeling of shared nationality and humanity.
No comments:
Post a Comment