‘90 rupees received’: Audio-based devices power India’s digital payments

Mr Santosh Mahto, a 32-year-old vegetable vendor in India's Noida city who uses Paytm's Soundbox to confirm receipt of payments. ST PHOTO: DEBARSHI DASGUPTA
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

NEW DELHI – Mr Santosh Mahto, a vegetable vendor, has his fare laid out neatly on two carts just before customers start thronging the evening market in Noida, a city adjacent to the Indian capital.

The 32-year-old’s carts are piled with bottle gourds, pumpkins, cucumbers, as well as beetroots and tomatoes.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.