As people across Gujarat thronged to banks and post offices to exchange and deposit their Rs500 and Rs1,000 denomination currency notes on Thursday, taking advantage of the mad rush, some people found an ‘opportunity’ to make money. Outside some banks, people were selling forms supposed to be filled by those who wanted to exchange their currency notes. These forms were distributed free of cost by banks, but due to long queues, some people did business by making photo copies and selling them at Rs5 per form.
As banks made it mandatory to submit a photocopy of identity cards in order to exchange currency notes, small time photocopy shops situated near banks minted money. They are expected to earn quick bucks in coming days.
Initially the banks in Ahmedabad distributed different denomination notes as per customers’ wishes but after some time they started giving out the newly-introduced Rs2,000 notes.
People coming from lower income group were hesitant to take Rs2000 notes as they argued that it would be difficult for them to buy things of less value as shopkeepers ask for less denomination notes.
Some businessmen deputed their staff members and even their family members to exchange notes. Interestingly, some of the employees were happy as they were offered incentives from the amount they exchanged.
In the diamond city-Surat-police became liberal on offenders of traffic rules and decided not to take fines from them as most people are short of lesser denomination notes. Sources in the Surat police said that they would remain liberal for couple of days only.
According to Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic), SG Trivedi, the decision was taken on humanitarian ground.
“Police understand the problem people are facing. Banks were closed on Wednesday and ATMs would remain close till Friday. Considering this situation, we would collect fines from offenders from Saturday only,” said Trivedi, adding that in required, the police would give court memo and in such situation they need to deposit fine in the court after few days.