Shack operators innovate to tide over change crisis

Panaji: The cash crisis may be slowly easing, but beach shack operators, who started their operations two months after the tourism season kicked-off in the state, did not have it easy. While some allowed the regular foreign clients credit others allowed the customer to deposit Rs 2,000 with them against future transactions.
Two weeks ago, when Rs500 notes were scarce and most ATMs were dispensing only Rs2,000 notes, some shack operates came up with a system to circumvent the problem of lack of change.
A foreigner could deposit a Rs2,000 note with a shack operator of his/her choice and avail of services till the balance turned nil.
Today, most shack operators have applied for the swipe machine and want it installed at the earliest. In South Goa, only few beach shacks had swipe machines before the cash crisis hit them hard, while in North Goa most did not have the swipe machine.
“Some of us started allowing regular customers credit,” secretary, Shack Operators Welfare Association (SOWS), John Lobo said, and added that they were left with no choice as dispensing change for Rs2,000 for small bill amounts would have exhausted whatever little change they had.
Some foreign tourists would deposit Rs2,000 or more with the shack owner, Lobo said, and explained that the expense would be deducted from this amount as and when. “Once the amount deposited with us is exhausted, they tender a fresh Rs2,000 note,” he added.
A shack operator in Cavelossim said he stopped credit to domestic tourists after he learned the hard way. “A guest of mine, staying at a five-star hotel, owed me Rs8,000. When I made enquiries, I was told that he had checked out,” he said and added that a week before he was cheated by another guest.
President SOWS Cruz Cardozo said banks have held meetings with shack operators asking them to install card swipe.