Villagers make do with credit

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Paniyar (Gurdaspur), Nov 13

Villagers are facing a plethora of problems following demonetisation.

Kamini Mahajan of Paniyar, 5 km from Gurdaspur, had fixed the marriage of her daughter for November 18. Today, she went to a nationalised bank to withdraw Rs10,000. But she was told that she could get just Rs2,000. She has decided to postpone the marriage.

Arriving at the bank at 7 am, Kamini had to stand in a queue for three hours before she could enter the bank. She also checked the adjacent ATM but it had no money.

Officials of banks, particularly those in rural areas, claim they are as helpless as villagers. “I asked my head officer to provide Rs50 lakh per day but I am getting just Rs2 lakh. Instead of giving people Rs10,000, we convince them to take just Rs2,000,” said a branch manager.

Like Kamini, Vandana of Maini village had planned her daughter’s marriage next week. The two labourers employed by her at her house for a whitewash left today as they were not paid arrears for four days. She was rescued by a landlord who handed her over Rs50,000 in Rs100 notes.

Such examples are common. The much-derided nukkad grocery shop owner has become villagers’ best friend as he has extended them a line of credit.

“I cater to a cluster of four villages. It is true that I am giving items on credit. But for how long will this last? After all, I too have to buy stocks from a wholesaler in Gurdaspur. This is becoming an ordeal in itself,” said Sunny, a shopkeeper.