Vendors worried over e-sale of stamp papers in Punjab

Tribune News Service

Parvesh Sharma

Sangrur, June 15

The recent decision of the state government to end manual sale of stamp papers and launch e-stamps has created problems for vendors.

Many do not have basic knowledge to operate computers while others do not have any office.

“I have been selling stamp papers for the past 42 years. We have never faced any problem in sale and purchase of stamp papers. If the government wants to start e-stamp paper, it should be optional. The authorities should allow both manual and e-sale as most vendors do not have knowledge to operate computers,” said Shiv Kumar, an elderly vendor in Malerkotla.

Some other stamp paper vendors said to launch e-stamp, the government should give proper training to all vendors first. The authorities should also give time to them to put in place required facilities, including computer, printer and electricity generators. Apart from increasing their cost, the new system would be more time consuming, said vendors.

“During the power cuts, residents who need stamp papers urgently will have to wait as vendors do not have electricity generators. There should be a proper plan to phase out manual stamp papers,” said Irshad Khan, another vendor.

The state government issued a notification last month to implement the e-stamp system. Some senior officers of the Revenue Department said the government would pay a commission of 2 per cent to the stamp vendors on e-stamps ranging from Re 1 to Rs 19,999, while the public will get stamp papers at the actual rates.

In Sangrur, some other vendors said the decision had come as a setback as they were expecting some help from the government.

“The decision will put an additional burden on sellers as they will have to spend on computer, printer and other required items. We request the CM to allow both manual and e-sale,” said a vendor from Sangrur.

Additional burden

The decision will put an additional burden on sellers as they will have to spend on computer, printer and other required items. We request the CM to allow both manual sale and e-sale. — a vendor

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