Lucknow, 18 Sept (HS): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national

president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has reacted to the

new UPI fee structure that will be implemented from October 15. She said that

after promoting digital transactions, implementing the fee structure may

ultimately increase the burden of expenditure on the common people. Mayawati

posted on X on Friday and said that after promoting UPI digital transactions a

lot earlier, now the new system of charging fees on it is natural for people to

be restless and angry. Calling it a system that puts an additional financial burden

on the public, she said that whatever name it is given, it may ultimately

affect the pockets of the common people.

Mayawati said that the majority of the country's population

is suffering from poverty and inflation. Therefore, the government's policies

and action plans should be more welfare-oriented than profit-driven commercial

systems. She said that the government should be concerned about the people's

financial hardships and suffering.

Mayawati also mentioned the Uttar Pradesh government's

announcement to convert approximately 14,500 schools into smart schools at a

cost of approximately Rs. 300 crore. Calling it a good initiative, she said

that basic infrastructure in schools must be ensured before providing smart

education to children. The BSP chief said that it is essential to improve basic

facilities for school children, such as buildings, benches, books, toilets,

playgrounds, and sanitation. She questioned whether it would be possible to

meet all these basic needs at a cost of approximately two lakh rupees per

school. The government should consider this with empathy.

It's worth noting that under the new UPI system, starting

October 15, a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will apply to select merchant

transactions exceeding Rs. 2,000. The central government has clarified that no

fees will be charged for person-to-person (P2P) transactions, and merchant

transactions up to Rs. 2,000 will also be exempt from fees. According to the

government, approximately 96 percent of merchant UPI transactions will not be

affected by this change.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi