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Komic, the world’s highest motorable village in India gets access to ATM services via Spice Money

By Leandra Monteiro

July 07, 2022

  • Digital Dukaan
  • Financial Inclusion
  • India
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Spice Money, KomicSpice Money, an Indian rural FinTech has provided much-needed access to essential financial services for Komic, the world’s highest motorable village in Himachal Pradesh, by introducing Spice Money Mini-ATM services.

Popularly known as the highest village in the world, Komic is located in the beautiful Spiti Valley at an altitude of 15500 ft. with a total population of 114 people. Bounded by snowcapped mountains and majestic valleys.

The lack of essential banking and financial services along with sparse internet connectivity stood as a major roadblock for the residents as well as tourists. In order to get access to cash and payment services, they had to travel 18 km away to the district headquarters, Kaza for the nearest ATM. This was not only a great inconvenience for the residents but also hampered the economic growth of the village. Spice Money addressed this problem by empowering a local kirana store owner to become a Spice Money Adhikari and open his Digital Dukaan at zero cost. This Digital Dukaan now will act as an AePS cash withdrawal, mini-ATM, bill payment and loan collection center.

While ATM penetration across the hinterlands of India has been inadequate, with one ATM per ten villages on an average, Spice Money has been bridging this rural urban divide with the help of its million-strong network of mini-ATMs, and Adhikaris. Last year in May, Spice Money introduced Mini-ATM services in Chitkul, India’s last inhabited village in Himachal Pradesh. The company converted one of the only two Kirana Stores in the village into a Spice Money ‘Digital Dukaan’ to offer cash-in cash-out services to the residents and tourists.

Sanjeev Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, Spice Money, said “A majority of India’s villages still lack banking infrastructure and ATM network. At Spice Money, our mission is to empower the smallest towns and villages in the remotest corners of India and bring essential banking and financial services to their doorstep. Establishing mini-ATM service at Komic is a testimony to our dedication towards solving the problem of access across the hinterlands of the country. We are thrilled to mark our presence at the world’s highest village and address the issues faced by residents and tourists through our digitally enabled platform”.

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