Tuesday brought more people to the different branches of the banks and crowds refused to subside at ATMs across the national Capital. Monday being the holiday owing to Guru Purnima, all banks saw huge crowds as people had started to gather on the wee hours of Tuesday. Despite separate lines for, women and elderly anxious citizens were seen jostling to gain entry inside banks.
The Delhi Police had a hard time managing long, winding queues outside banks and ATMs where people gathered to get cash after a week since the demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes. There were reports of police having to resort to “minor lathicharge” on people waiting outside the Reserve Bank of India here. However, police and eyewitnesses said there was no lathicharge and the forces had to “discipline the unruly crowd with lathis”. The Delhi Police was extra alert to monitor situation in North, Central districts and the Walled City areas, said a senior police official.
The crowds kept on swelling even after a week of the demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes as people continued to struggle for basic necessities. Cash-strapped people were seen waiting in long, winding queues outside banks and ATMs to get petty cash. If that was not enough, commuting by public transport and auto-rickshaws became tougher for those short of change or new currency notes to make the payments.
The queues at Mother Dairy and other cooperative stores, where old currency notes are being accepted till November 24, were also long as people were seen buying the products in bulk.
“I have made an arrangement with an auto-rickshaw driver, I’m travelling to office by the same vehicle everyday and I told him I will pay the amount together when I have new notes.
“But it has been a week, I got Rs 4,000 exchanged last week but they were spent in making payments for groceries and other stuff. I’m feeling bad because the driver is also out of money,” said Debajyoti, a Rohini resident. Meanwhile, the owners said their businesses were suffering.
“People come and request us if we can accept Rs 500 notes. How can I even try when even I am running out of stockIJ The wholesale market from where we purchase vegetables is also closed as nobody has money to pay or continue with any transaction. Can we pay truck drivers through cheques or netbankingIJ,” said Ram Kishan, a grocery shop owner in South Delhi’s Ber Sarai area.
“I iron clothes in our locality. I’m making an account for all people who are getting work done from me thinking they will pay cash to me later. Similarly, I’m also buying my stuff from the kirana store promising him to pay later. So everybody’s business is running like this,” said Rajwati, who resides in East Delhi’s laxmi Nagar area. “But the question bothering everybody is till whenIJ” she added.
Sidhant Malhotra, who travels to his college by taxis, said, “I can make the transactions online and use plastic money but what about people like my parents who aren’t tech savvy. I can do it for them but basic necessities like water bottles are delivered when I’m not there. How do I help thatIJ”
“The economy, which should turn into a black money-free, is becoming a credit economy where everybody is taking credit from someone promising to pay later,” he added.