People asked not to stash Rs 100 notes
ATMs remain cashless in Nongstoin
SHILLONG/NONGSTOIN: The plight of the people in the city as well as in other parts of the State continues even two weeks after the Centre scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 as shortage of Rs 100 denomination notes and non-functional ATMs remain the order of the day.
An SBI official in Shillong has admitted that there is shortage of Rs 100 notes in the State and urged people not to hoard the smaller denomination.
“We are in desperate need of Rs 100. RBI has assured that Rs 100 notes will be sent shortly. The problem will ease once the Rs 100 notes come to the market,” the official told The Shillong Times.
Concerned over the hoarding of Rs 100 notes, the official said the money should be allowed to circulate. “People are hoarding Rs 100 notes as some are not accepting Rs 2,000. However, the situation is now normalised and different from the situations as witnessed from the rush and the long queues on November 9, 10. The situation now is a little normal in Shillong,” the official said.
In Nongstoin, the situation is far from normal as long queues outside banks continue as the four ATM machines – of HDFC Bank, SBI, Canara Bank and Meghalaya Co-operative Apex Bank – remain out of cash most of the time.
The Canara Bank ATM is closed since the government started issuing Rs 2,000 notes.
Many hassled people in Nongstoin complained that while ATMs in Shillong are loaded with Rs 100 those in Nongstoin only have Rs 2,000. “The machines were not loaded with Rs 100 notes as the banks did not bother the difficulties face by the public,” S. Nongkynrih said while standing in a long queue.
Pristar Marbaniang, a college student, said he found the ATMs out of cash even after visiting them at different hours of the day. “I have to attend the class and also do other work. I stood in the queue on Friday but had to leave for my class. I again came in the morning but could not get the money. I checked different ATMs but cash was not available. This is the fourth time I am in the queue just to get Rs 500 for buying vegetables,” he said.
The SBI official in Shillong said once Rs 100 notes arrive, the situation will be normal. On asking about the Rs 500 notes, the official said that it not known as to when the denomination will be circulated as it is the prerogative of the central government.
