Bengaluru: Eleven days since the move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes was initiated by the Narendra Modi government and still there is no respite for citizens. Long queues were seen outside ATMs, where citizens lined up to withdraw money as banks were not open this Sunday. People had to wait for at least an hour to draw cash. Most of the ATMs had the now-familiar “no cash” sign hung outside.
Sriram S., a techie waiting outside a Canara Bank ATM that was dispensing Rs 100 notes, said, “I have been waiting for over an hour and there are still a couple of people ahead of me. I just hope the ATM does not run out of cash. Otherwise, getting a cab or auto to go to work on Monday will be a problem.”
Ms Radha Srinivasan, a homemaker, too was in the same queue. “I have been standing here for almost 45 minutes, and I was here yesterday too. I really don’t know why the government had to do this without anticipating such huge inconvenience to the people. They should have prepared in advance and printed more money before initiating this move,” she lamented.
Abhinav V., a HR professional, said, “I understand the government has to do something about black money. I’m sure something could have been done without putting the ordinary people into so much trouble.”
Considering himself lucky to have made it to the bank on Saturday and drawn cash, he said, “I managed to withdraw cash on Saturday and have enough till Tuesday, when this whole rigmarole will begin again. I will again have to hunt for ATMs and banks just to get some cash.”
