Note ban day 41: No respite in sight, cashlessness sting still painful

Serpentine queues have been witnessed across the country after the government's November 8 decision to spike higher currency notes to curb "black money

New Delhi, Dec 19: There was no respite in sight for cash-strapped people on Monday as queues outside banks and ATMs for withdrawing money continued across the city with rising anger and pain.

An IANS correspondent who visited about 10 banks and ATMs across the city, found over 150 people outside Punjab National Bank and State Bank of India in Kalkaji area of south Delhi.

Similar conditions were witnessed outside the Indian Overseas Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank in Preet Vihar area in east Delhi.

Jaswant Sharma, a security guard with a law firm and resident of Kalkaji extension, told IANS: "Since the day I got my salary I am looking for an ATM to withdraw some cash. Three of my attempts have gone in vein as the ATM machine runs out of cash before my turn comes.

Asked if he supports the government's move of scrapping the old Rs 500 and 1,000 notes, Sharma said: "I have nothing to do with the government decision, I just want to withdraw some cash as I am left with only Rs 10 in my pocket. Cash is the necessity."

"I have borrowed the bicycle from one of my friend to reach here," he rued.

There were around 300 people outside the Yes Bank and HDFC ATM kiosk in Kalkaji area around 12.30 a.m. which was dispensing cash till early morning.

Balkishan, a lawyer who had arrived at the ATM to withdraw cash with his 12-year-old son, told IANS: "At most of the places people in the queues do not allow withdrawal from multiple cards. So I have come with my son to withdraw money from two cards."

"We cannot stand in bank or ATM queue everyday, what comes in mere Rs 2,500," he asked.

However, similar situation was witnessed outside the banks on Monday morning, which opened after Sunday. Hundreds of people were seen waiting for their turn.

Balwinder Singh, a resident of South Extension Part II who was standing outside Punjab National Bank in south Delhi, told IANS: "It is completely mismanaged show."

"The government has made the middle and working class people suffer. Today I have skipped my office for the third time since demonetisation to withdraw cash."

"Is government going to pay me for the days I have skipped my office to withdraw some cash?" he said.

Echoing similar opinion, Neha Sharma, an IT professional working with an MNC in Noida, said: "We cannot skip office everytime by giving the excuse that we need to withdraw some cash."

"The government has set the limit of Rs 24,000 a week, but the bank officials are only giving Rs 4,000," she rued.

"How do we manage our expenses for whole month in just Rs 4,000," she asked.

Serpentine queues have been witnessed across the country after the government's November 8 decision to spike higher currency notes to curb "black money and corruption".

IANS