IMPHAL, Dec. 2: The limited number of currency notes due to inadequate amounts of new currency notes following the demonetisation has evoked negative reactions from public in Manipur.
“I’ve been standing here for more than three hours just to take Rs 2, 500. We’re told the replenishment team will come. But I’m not sure when it (ATM) will open,” says a customer in front of a closed ATM booth here. “It would be a great help we’re entitled to withdraw at least Rs 5000.”
Almost all the ATM booths excluding a few in Imphal stopped normal operations after the announcement of the demonetisation of the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, on November 8.
The reason for ATMs closing, according to bank authorities here, is the lack of adequate currency notes and ‘other technical snags.’
Besides, the volume of remittance for the state from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is said to be comparatively low as it comes by air unlike the other NE states.
So far, a sum of Rs 500 crore had been sent to the state from the RBI for remittance. The last dispatch was Rs 83 crore and it included Rs 20 crore in Rs 500 notes, sources added.
Even though there are reports of sighting relief in some of the NE states with the arrival of the new Rs 500 notes, the scene was different in case of Manipur where angry customers even vandalised two branches of SBI on November 28 accusing the bank officials for diverting the cash somewhere.
However, functionaries of the United Forum of Bank Unions, Manipur unit, and SBI officers’ association had two separate media interactions on Wednesday. They stated that there were ‘so many limitations and regulations in the functioning of the banks’ not to speak of extended working hours after the recent demonetisation.
There are also reports that demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 are being exchanged with currency notes of smaller denominations in Imphal markets for exchange fees ranging between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, sources said.
The situation in Manipur has been worsening as demonetisation collides with the indefinite blockade on the state’s supply lines.
