The Revenue and Disaster Management Department of Odisha has initiated a move to introduce cashless transactions in all sub-registrar and district sub-registrar offices across the state. A total of 350 point-of-sale (PoS) machines will be installed in phases, according to a decision taken at a high-level review meeting chaired by Arabinda Kumar Padhee, additional chief secretary of the department.
Implementation Plan and Funding
The PoS machines will be provided through a major public sector bank and allocated to offices based on the volume of registration transactions they handle. The department will bear the cost of procuring the machines. In the first phase, the cashless payment facility will be rolled out in registration offices in Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, and Sambalpur. A five-year maintenance contract will be established to ensure uninterrupted service, timely repairs, and proper upkeep of the devices.
Standard Operating Procedure and Training
The meeting also decided that, after government approval, a standard operating procedure (SOP) will be prepared for the system's implementation. Officials and staff will be trained to operate the machines and guide citizens in using digital payment modes. Cash transactions will be discouraged and allowed only in unavoidable circumstances.
Objectives and Impact
Officials stated that the initiative aims to promote digital payments while improving transparency, convenience, efficiency, and accountability in the registration process. The state government has already introduced registration services at all tehsil offices, which has eased the burden on both citizens and existing registration offices.
