Kerala: Banks still toil to serve customers

Kozhikode: Demonetisation blues continue to haunt people even after a month into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's war against black money with most of the banks struggling with the shortage of currencies. The restrictions imposed on the withdrawals from ATMs (Rs 2,500 per day) and bank counters (Rs 24,000 a week) are still in force. Except for few banks, a majority are unable to give Rs 24,000 in a stretch to customers, which lead to a rush at the banks. V.P. Salahudheen, a young businessman, told DC that while riding on the bike he used to check for ATMs with long queues, which means it has Rs 100 banknote in it.

“Small line means you have only Rs 2,000 denomination available,” he said. However, bank employees are through their toughest period in history as they are at the receiving end with irate customers showering abuses on them, manhandling and even shut down the banks sans sufficient currency by force. “We have a drastic shortage of small denomination of currency in banks, but our bank is fortunate enough to give away Rs 24,000 to our customers on the day,” said Srinivasan P., chief manager at SBT, Koyilandy. “But since last one week, we have no stocks of Rs 100 and Rs 500 currencies but Rs 10 and Rs 20.”

Long queues in front of banks are a regular scene in Malappuram, Kannur and Kasargod districts for the last one month. However, a majority of banks in Wayanad continued to give smaller amounts to customers as they are running out of currency stock. Anil Kottaram, a trader of Sulthan Bathery, told DC that banks are running out of cash are now distributing only smaller amounts.   “Since Monday the State Bank of India, Sulthan Bathery branch gives only Rs 6,000 a customer, that too only Rs 2,000 denomination and most of the other banks are also doing the same,” he alleged. He says there are fewer vehicles on roads and no shopping crowd in textile shops, theatres and even hospitals.