Queues shorten, but woes continue

Ten days after PM Modi’s shock announcement invalidating high-value notes, the ‘demon’ in ‘demonetisation’ continued to rear its head, albeit not as ferociously as before.
While the introduction of Rs 2,000 notes at teller machines helped shorten the serpentine queues witnessed since the November 8 announcement, the rapidly diminishing cash supply did little to ease the frustration and desperation of the common man.Breaking the big note posed its own set of problems.
In Kolkata, a small-time garment trader, 46-year-old Sk Islammuddin died of a heart attack, after a spell of illness that followed three successive days spent in queues at a bank to exchannge notes without success.
A cashier died while dispensing notes at a Nagpur bank. R V Rajesh, a 52-year-old ex-serviceman, died after an argument with a customer. “He was handling the senior citizens’ queue,” said a colleague, “when he suddenly began to sweat heavily and collapsed.”
Rajesh had joined State Bank of India in 2009 after retiring from the Indian Air Force. Nagpur also saw citizens turn good samaritans with a student, Bhavisha Nathani, inspiring youngsters to help the people waiting in queues. “The people waiting said they were thirsty, so I gave them water. I also stood in their place in the queue,” said Bhavisha.
In Madhya Pradesh, the reduction in the exchange limit and the use of indelible ink resulted in shorter queues. Confederation of All India Traders chief Kailash Agrawal said, “Markers have started picking up. Farmers have also started accepting cheques. The use of the new notes has increased.”
In Pune, SBI has been getting roughly a sixth of the amount it needs.
In Chhattisgarh, the situation in rural areas remained grim, while capital Raipur saw thinner crowds as private banks loaded money into ATMs twice or more. Intelligence inputs about Maoists trying to dispose of hoarded cash through villagers put security forces in Bastar on alert.
In Guwahati, residents reported slight relief, but the new Rs 2,000 note presented problems. “It’s very difficult to break it. The government should have arranged for more 500-rupee notes instead of Rs 2000 ones,” said Jayanta Goswami, a retired school teacher. Problems of small traders and vegetable growers continued. “We can neither stop selling our goods, nor can we accept the old notes,” said Habibur Rahman, a farmer.
In Jaipur, the manager of a public bank said the RBI had asked banks to wait as they were making arrangements to dispense the new notes. “People keep coming in through the day but are forced to return empty-handed,” said an official.
In Ahmedabad, shorter queues did little to diminish worries or tempers. Teacher Tanisha Lalwani said, “Every day I hear RBI claiming there is enough cash, but the reality is just the opposite.”
In Lucknow, there was appreciation for the decision to allow withdrawal of Rs 2.5 lakh for weddings.
In Goa, banks continued to exchange notes without applying the indelible ink amid confusion surrounding its procurement. The EC has sought to stop the use of ink as several states, including Goa, are heading for polls.
(Inputs from Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Goa, Raipur, Bhopal, Nagpur, Pune)