Demonetisation hits devotees at temple town

Following the demonetisation of high-value currency notes, devotees visiting the famous Saibaba temple here had a hard time today as the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were not accepted even as donation.
The bhakt-niwas (lodge for devotees) run by the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, which manages the temple, refused to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, said Ludhiyana-based Rama Veej.
Surat-based Vinod Joshi, who visits the Saibaba temple every year, said he faced the same problem.
The SSST authorities said they were now accepting credit or debit cards for the lodging facility.
Interestingly, the demonetised currency was not accepted at the donation counter (where receipts are given for the donations accepted) in the temple too. But devotees could drop the notes in the cash box.

Sachin Tambe, an SSST member, said the Trust had decided to provide free meals, tea and biscuits to the devotees who are facing the cash crunch, but would not be accepting the demonetised currency.