Even when people are facing difficulties to exchange old `500 and `1000 notes, the State Government on Monday distributed widow and old age pensions in the junked notes among beneficiaries in Dambaguda gram panchayat in Gajapati district.
The beneficiaries, who have received pensions in `500 notes, are now a worried lot. “What we will do with these Achal tanka (stamped out currency notes) when bank services are not available in our area and we have no bank accounts either,” wanted to know many beneficiaries.
They said Panchayat Executive Officer K Simanchal distributed `500 notes to them towards their pensions stating that he didn’t have new currency notes.
The local BDO and gram panchayat Extension Officer said they have not received any written complaint in this regard but would still inquire into the matter.