TURA: A one-time financial assistance given to the marginalised sections of society through their bank accounts by the Centre to help tide over their difficulties in the lockdown scenario due to COVID-19 in the country has led to people violating the all-important social distancing norms as they flock to banks to withdraw the money.
Scenes of large gatherings outside banks have been prevailing for the last two weeks as eager and worried customers rush to withdraw the amount of Rs 500 deposited by the central government into their accounts.
One of the prime reasons found behind this ‘mad rush’ has been the circulation of rumours by vested interest groups, who have been frightening the account holders that unless they withdraw the amount the money would be returned by the banks.
“Reports about money being taken back from accounts are totally false. The centre has released the money through the banks and it is already inside the account of the customer through direct benefit transfer. There is no question of the money disappearing,” clarified Mannan, a bank manager in Garo Hills.
Reports of large crowds outside banks have been surfacing not just in Tura but even in smaller towns like Phulbari, Rajabala, Bajengdoba, Dainadubi, Ampati, Mendal and other places.
Those queuing up to withdraw are mostly daily wagers and job card holders of MGNREGA.
The Modi government announced the release of five hundred rupees each month — March, April and May — to all those who opened zero balance accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana scheme across the country.
The money released under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana is expected to benefit crores of Indian citizens who depend on daily work and the central MGNREGA scheme.
Banks across Garo Hills have been having a trying time catering to many an angry customer in their branches and repeated attempts to make the crowds comply with social distancing norms are falling on deaf ears. “We came to know that if we do not withdraw the money given to us then the banks will return it. That’s why I came out to stand in line despite the danger of being infected,” complained several women daily wagers from Tura when confronted with the violation of social distancing.
Reports have also come in about some unscrupulous village employment council members encouraging the withdrawal for financial benefits.
In areas where there is no banking facility, the VEC secretaries are entrusted with withdrawing the money of scores of job card holders from the bank which is then distributed at the village level.
“We have been getting reports that in some places those withdrawing the amounts for the villagers are taking a cut from each beneficiary. Even if they take Rs 10-20 per beneficiary they will make a fortune because they are withdrawing money belonging to hundreds of job card holders,” revealed a concerned banker from West Garo Hills exposing the dark side of the lockdown in which the scheming come out to make a quick buck at the expense of the less fortunate.
Several bankers, who spoke to The Shillong Times, revealed that lack of awareness about the scheme and the money deposited has helped the manipulative to get an upper hand. Some attempts are being made at halting this problem, like in South West Garo Hills, where the banks are allowing village-wise customers to come out and do their transaction at the bank branch in order to prevent crowding.
