Students, teachers and even the non-teaching staff will be provided these cards, which, according to the University Pro Chancellor Fr Abraham, “will allow them to use it for a varied purposes as also help reduce security concerns that cash is associated with.”
From buying food in the canteen to paying parking charges (four-wheelers) to paying library dues and remitting the fees, the management has decided to go the smart way through this card, being provided in partnership with South Indian Bank.
Pooja Rajkumar, a student, said: “When we joined, we had an ID card and an ATM card.
About two weeks ago, we were issued the smart card. We are told this can be used for almost all purposes that involve cash on the campus.”
When the college asked its students to hand over their identity cards and the ATM cards (South Indian Bank), they had little idea of what was in store. Now, they are excited by the prospects, although the excitement is not free of apprehension.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Abraham said: “The card can be used only as ID card and ATM card as we are still in the process of putting in place the required infrastructure to allow the complete usage of the card, which will happen soon.”
About 250 non-teaching staff members, 400 teachers and all first year students, spanning across the courses including PhDs, have been given the cards and this will continue for the future batches.
Abraham said the card, if the student has money in his/her account, can be used even outside. “It can be used internationally, if they have the money in their account. The money is not coming to the university. It is their money and can be used by them anywhere.”
Once a student completes the course at the university, he/she will be required to submit the card and obtain a normal ATM card from the bank, as the card doubles up as an ID card and the university does not want to entertain former students to have possession of their ID cards.
The idea, although implemented by South Indian Bank, was mooted by the university’s IT faculty over an year ago. “Our faculty has been working with the bank for over a year now and we finally have a product which we believe will make our students’ life in campus easy,” Abraham noted. He said the students could, if they please, also not use this facility.