Following demonetisation, it has not been easy for people in tribal areas in Krishnagiri. People are cooking food near banks and staying up all night to exchange Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, reported The New Indian Express.
O Basappa in his 60s from Kodakarai told TNIE that he walked 9 km to reach Kempakarai and then took a tempo for 15 km to reach a bank. He travelled to Anchetti where a branch of State Bank of Mysore is located. It is the only nationalised bank within a 30-km radius in Denkanikottai taluk and is 110 km from the district headquarters.
Basappa’s wife Nelamma was also waiting in the queue with the money she earned by working under MNREGA. After waiting for the whole day, she got Rs 2000 in hand and another Rs 2000 deposited in her account. When she wanted change for Rs 2000, a group of touts struck a deal for a commission of Rs 500. As they had to return to their village, they decided to part with the money.
Another person, R Kamatchi from Thimmanatti waited one whole day to get a requisition slip. R Sanga Iyer of Kodakarai, who went to the bank to exchange Rs 4500 also stood in the queue till evening. He lost one day’s daily wage of Rs 260 and waiting for another day would mean more losses for him.
Bank of Mysore branch manager Chandrasekhar told TNIE that bank seal would be stamped on the requisition slip to prevent illegal sale as there were allegations that a shop near the bank was providing customers with the requisition slip for Rs 50 per slip.
This story was reported by Sivaguru S of The New Indian Express.