Tying in with India’s thrust on digitisation and paperless economy post demonetisation, a bio-solar ATM has been developed by Indian scientists for rural areas, Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan announced on Wednesday.
After November 8, there was so much talk about digitisation. A team of scientists led by professor SP Gon Chaudhuri from Kolkata has designed a bio-solar ATM, he informed the media on the sidelines of the Department of a Science and Technology Conclave in Kolkata.
Renewable energy expert Gon Chaudhuri unveiled a prototype of the machine, priced at around Rs 6 lakh — half of a conventional ATM — at the conclave.
The scientist said the ATM is biometric, touch-based device powered by solar rays.
Instead of showing numbers and alphabets, the ATM screen displays pictures of currency denominations. He said the ministry has discussed the launch of two pilot prototypes in a rural bank.
Harsh Vardhan, who was also asked on the recent controversy over hacking of EVMs, said that there are mechanisms to detect such incidences swiftly.
By Baishakhi Dutta
