A majority of automated teller machines (ATM), dispensing cash, have run dry in Hassan city, leaving the public with no cash for transactions.
“I have visited at least 10 to 15 ATMs in the last two days, but did not get cash,” said Nayakarahalli Manje Gowda, teacher and district president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat.
Similar is the experience of hundreds of people in the city. Manjulamma, a resident of Hemavati Nagar, said she was in need of cash as she had to pay the weekly instalment against a loan from a microfinance organisation through a self-help group. “No ATM has cash in the city. If I don’t pay the amount this week, I will have to pay a heavy penalty,” she said.
Ganesh, a shopkeeper on Salagame Road, has rented out a portion of his building to an ATM. “Yesterday, the crew, from the private agency which handles the cash for ATMs, came and loaded cash. Soon, there was a long queue to draw cash. Within a couple of hours, the machine was empty,” he said.
The people have been forced to approach banks. “We don’t know whom to complain to about the status of the ATMs. When we call up the helpline, there is no proper response,” said Ranganath K., a resident of Vidya Nagar. The officers at bank branches are also tired of responding to queries.
“We are planning a protest against the banks if they fail to fill up the ATMs soon,” said Mr. Gowda. He said he was contacting representatives of other organisations to stage the protest.
