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Saying No to Plastic, may be the global climate change mantra, but this slogan is a far cry from the way plastic cards rule our lives today. Our existence is validated by these cards. The UID determines whether our existence is valid in India or not, and student and college IDs validate the existence during our student lives. Voter ID-cards and driving licences validate our rights to vote and drive as adults and PAN cards determine our right to function economically. Going forward, it appears like the human race is going to use plastic cards for every interface.

Almost every week one is plagued with phone calls, from some banks or agencies offering a lifetime prepaid credit card. In the past decade, since plastic money hit the Indian market, we have come a long way from the time when banks did a thorough due diligence by checking the income-tax returns before sanctioning a card. These days' cold calling marketing strategies often offer a platinum card over a phone conversation, after prior background check of the person has been conducted. Credit cards are offered almost as easily as a pre-paid sim card.

The credit-debit cards seem to be the most popular usage of the plastic cards. Their huge popularity is because they can be used as a ready replacement for money for day- to-day transaction, which has earned its name plastic money. The freedom and choice to spend is so inherent in the plastic money that people seldom think about the slightly expensive interest that is charged when they use the credit facility. For the more interest-conscious, there is always the debit card or the ATM card, for money withdrawal.

A slight variance is the charge card, like the AMEX or Diners Card, where the payment's due time is stipulated and late payment attracts stiff default penalties. Petro cards, shopping cards and hotel and travel cards earn brownie points for usage and they can be redeemed for gifts. It's not surprising then that most wallets are bulging with numerous plastic cards, rather than wads of currency.

Affinity Cards are often associated with the cause of an organisation such as WWF or AIDS or Cancer Foundation. Usage of these cards makes a small stipulated amount of donation to the organisation.

Smart Cards are often used to give away as gift to others. The Starbucks card acts as a charge card and you can buy your coffee on the go; using this card can sometimes buy you a cheaper coffee. A Smart card is also normally used for bus fares, in clubs, libraries, and gymnasiums. The card when swiped automatically deducts the price of the service being used. Therefore, there is no further need for paper receipts or signatures. Like pre-paid sims, the smart cards can be topped up.

These electronic ways of payment are fast gaining momentum due to their ease of operation and relatively low handling risks.

Surveillance and identifications systems today are able to control misusage of such cards. Even if they are stolen, they can be frozen and made inactive by the service providers within moments of being reported. With stricter laws, cases of non-payment to credit card companies have come down.

Whether for monetary transactions or validating our identities, plastic cards are invading our day-to-day lives. As the
saying goes, no one can stop

an idea whose time has come. With a robust annual growth rate of 25%, plastic cards' time is here and now.