Have You Ever Seen India's Zero Rupee Note? Know When, Why, And How It Came To Be
If someone gave you a zero rupee note, you might think it's just a joke and keep it as a fake money prop. The important money amounts for us are Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, and the higher ones like Rs 500.
But did you know that a zero-rupee note in India serves a big purpose and isn't just a regular piece of paper? It might surprise you.
In India, a zero-rupee note is like a fake banknote created to stop people from giving bribes and to fight against corruption in the government.
These notes look like the regular Rs 50 notes in India, but they're made by a group called 5th Pillar, not by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
For over ten years now, these notes have been given out every month to help fight corruption.
Zero rupee note
The zero rupee note looks very similar to the old 50 rupee note and is bigger in size than the normal note. On the note, in place of Reserve Bank of India, is written, ¡®Eliminate Corruption At All Levels.¡¯ The note also carries several instructions regarding the course of action that a citizen can take if an official asks for a bribe. In addition, the note hones the phone numbers to the organization and a stamp that says, ¡°This is not a currency note.¡±
The aim of zero rupee note
The Tamil Nadu-based NGO 5th Pillar introduced the zero rupee note in 2007 as a way to show their refusal to engage in bribery. Despite its resemblance to the ?50 note, the zero rupee note features anti-corruption messages like "Eliminate corruption at all levels" and "I promise to neither accept nor give bribes."
The notes were specifically designed for use by Indian citizens who have been requested to pay bribes in return for some services that are legally free. It is also for those who were hit with illicit surcharges on routine government transactions such as obtaining a diver's licence.
The 5th Pillar has printed millions of zero-rupee notes in languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Volunteers distribute these notes at bus stations, railway stations, markets, and other public places to raise awareness about corruption, especially bribery.
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