Blaming the central government for the "unprecedented cash crunch in banks", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the bank branches in the state were not receiving sufficient cash to meet the people's needs.
"The United Bank of India branches here were supposed to receive Rs 640 crore in cash in last one and half months. But they have received only Rs 504 crore since demonetisation," Banerjee said in West Bengal's Bankura district.
"Our state is not getting the promised money," the Chief Minister said.
Banerjee also said the number of workers under the 100 days' work scheme in the districts has been reduced to one-third of their strength before demonetisation as they were unable to withdraw money from the banks.
"Earlier 30,000 people used to work under 100 days' work scheme in Bankura. Now only 10,000 people are working. Labourers are not getting wages under 100 days' work scheme due to demonetisation," she said.
Describing the situation in the nation as "Cash crunch - bank crunch", the Trinamool Congress supremo said the government should work on developing the infrastructure before lecturing about cashless economy.
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"Most villages don't have banks and most banks don't have money. This is a time of major crisis. Let them first create the infrastructure for cashless economy. Only bhashan (lecture) won't do," Banerjee said.
--IANS
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