The Narendra Modi government’s recent enthusiasm for “going cashless” made its way to Parliament’s canteens on Wednesday. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan inaugurated plastic money payment options at 19 spots on the Parliament premises, including canteens and the Central Hall. She later took to Twitter to share images of the event.

Parliament’s Food Committee Chairman AP Jithender Reddy told PTI that the step was taken because of the cash crunch since demonetisation. “Sometimes, there was no cash to pay or sometimes there was no change available with the canteen cashier,” Reddy said. Cashless payment will address this situation, he added.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of high-value currency notes on November 8, he has been campaigning vigorously for a “cashless economy”. During his monthly radio address to the nation ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on November 27, PM Modi had said, “Take a pledge you will be part of a cashless economy.”