After the introduction of the new Rs. 2,000 note, villagers in Hassan district find that many shopkeepers are refusing to accept the new currency as they do not have sufficient smaller denomination notes to give back as change. As a result, there have been minimum transactions.
When The Hindu visited Shettihalli on Wednesday afternoon, most of the shops in the village were either closed or with shutters half down. The reason was non-availability of smaller denomination currency for daily transactions.
The Canara Bank branch in the village does not issue any other note other than Rs. 2,000. “Every person in the village has Rs. 2,000 notes as the bank has not provided any other note in the last few days,” said William, who runs a shop in the village.
Within a few minutes, at least eight people gathered at his shop to share their experiences with the new Rs. 2,000 note.
Shivashankar of Manjunath Bakery in the village closed his shop at noon for the same reason. “Before demonetisation came into effect, I had a daily business of over Rs. 2,000. Now, it is not even Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 a day. Shoppers carry the new currency and we do not have sufficient change,” he said.
Rajanna, who runs a hotel in the village, said: “Yesterday, two people came to my hotel for lunch. Before they ordered food, I asked if they had sufficient change. They only had a Rs. 2,000 note. I had no option but to send them away without food,” he said.
The villagers alleged that the bank officers were not cooperating with them to make arrangements for smaller denomination notes. “I visited the bank to withdraw Rs. 2,500. The bank officials told me that I can only withdraw either Rs. 2,000 or Rs. 4,000,” said Mari Joseph, a resident of the village.
The majority of the villagers find the demonetisation process a punishment for the poor and not the rich, who have black money.
