Do you know about the Zero Rupee note? Have you seen Zero (0) Rupee notes in India? When and why was it printed? It is said that Zero Rupee notes have been in circulation in India for more than a decade. Let's study about the Zero Rupee note through this article.
There are various denomination notes in India like Rs. 5, Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000, you will be surprised to know when Zero Rupee notes were also printed in India, you read that right, some reports say that Zero Rupee notes have been in circulation in India for more than a decade.
We know that RBI prints currency notes in India but RBI does not print Zero or Zero Rupee notes. It means that RBI has not printed Zero Rupee notes. Zero Rupee Note, its features, what it looks like, when it was printed and why. Let's find out now.
Zero Rupee Note
According to some media reports, the Zero Rupee note was first introduced in 2007 by an NGO named 5th Pillar. 5th Pillar is an NGO from Tamil Nadu and it has printed Zero notes worth Rs 5 lakh. Interestingly, these notes were printed in various languages like Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
This note is a non-violent weapon of non-cooperation against corruption. The NGO launched the Zero Rupee note to curb corruption.
What was the motive of the NGO behind printing the Zero Rupee note?
In India, bribery is a crime punishable by suspension and imprisonment. When people dare to show Zero Rupee notes to corrupt officials in exchange for bribes, these people get scared. The purpose of this NGO is to raise voice against corruption by giving these Zero Rupee notes instead of money to bribe seekers. That is, the NGO encourages citizens to give a Zero Rupee note whenever a corrupt government official asks for a bribe.
What does a Zero Rupee note look like and what is written on it?
This note has a picture of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi printed on it. Also, 'End Corruption' is written on this note. "If anyone asks for a bribe, give us this letter and talk to us." "I promise not to take or give." The phone number and email ID of the organization are printed on the bottom right of the note.
Where were the Zero Rupee notes distributed?
Zero Rupee notes were distributed by 5th Pillar volunteers at railway stations, bus stations and markets to raise awareness about bribery and remind people of their rights and alternative solutions.
During wedding ceremonies, birthday parties and social gatherings, information desks were set up at the entrance of the marriage hall and Zero Rupee notes were distributed and information booklets and pamphlets were also distributed.
What is 5th Pillar?
5th Pillar is an NGO from Tamil Nadu. Vijay Anand is the co-founder and chairman of 5th Pillar. It is a non-profit organization that aims to encourage, enable and empower every citizen of India to eradicate corruption at all levels of society.
5th Pillar believes that the citizens of a society are the foundation of the nation. The main objective of 5th Pillar is to strengthen democracy by preparing the next generation of youth to become dutiful and patriotic citizens in all aspects – following traffic rules, following eco-friendly practices, helping and educating fellow citizens to live a bribe-free life.
To make the young generation socially responsible individuals, to make them aware of the various laws governing their functioning as a part of society, 5th Pillar has conducted awareness programs in more than 1600 schools and colleges. Trained on robust and innovative methods.
The 5th Pillar Institute had centers in several districts of Tamil Nadu. It is headquartered in Chennai. The institute also has centers in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Pali in Rajasthan.
5th Pillar also won the Citizen Media Award from the Ashoka Foundation for using creative methods to disseminate its message.