Digital payments transform daily life in remote Humla

As smartphone and internet access has expanded in Humla, the way locals do business has changed. This Ghatasthapana, a crowd of customers paying by QR code gathered at the shop of businessman Tilak Bahadur Shahi in Shrinagar, Adanchuli Rural Municipality.

Until a few years ago, it was hard to even imagine cashless transactions there. When customers had no cash, goods were given on credit or trust, and sometimes bartered instead.

Shahi said collecting on credit used to involve the hassle of mismatched signatures and discrepancies when taking cheques. Credit records once written on paper are now kept securely on mobile phones.

Most of his customers now pay by QR code. Even for credit payments, QR codes are sent through Messenger or WhatsApp. Shahi says digital means have made business easier, safer and more transparent.