The demonetisation move made the Modi Government has thrown the normal life out of gear here. People from all walks of life had a tough time as they did not have adequate `100 currency notes and denominations below it to meet various requirements. To add to the woes, ATMs were closed and banks did not offer service.
The people couldn’t buy the vegetables, grocery, essential household items and despite claim by the Petroleum Ministry, the fuel pump outlets refused to accept `500 currency notes. The pump operators either asked to fill fuel for `500 or not fill at all if a `500 note was given. The small time vendors, roadside and makeshift shopkeepers refused to accept the notes stating that they would be a liability to them. They were not prepared to face the possible difficulties of standing in long queues in banks to exchange the notes. Same situation prevailed in the restaurants as well.
The business in the market witnessed a slump. lesser volume of people were seen in the market. Most of the people postponed their marketing for next 2-3 days. The number of passengers in the buses going outside the district was also less. Many postponed their trip stating the reason of not having adequate notes of Rs 100 and lesser denominations.
Not only the illiterate people, the educated people mainly the housewives, speculated what will happen when the banks would be opened and ATMs would be operative.
However, by and large, the people have welcomed the move of the Central Government hoping this would expose the black money stocked in the country. “The Government should have withdrawn `500 and `1,000 from the ATM slowly and instead given `100 only. This could have saved from the today’s situation,” many people observed.
Baleswar MP RK Jena said, “This is a welcome step. This would not only curb the black money menace but also bring more people in tax fold. Currently, about 1 per cent people pay tax. As more people come under tax fold, it would give a boost to our country’s economy.”