Note ban could have been handled in a better way: ArthaKranti

We are against methods that would affect even one person in society, said Anil Bokil

A Pune-based think-tank, which has been campaigning for cancellation of high-value currency notes said the demonetisation drive could have been implemented with more sophistication and lesser inconvenience to people.

ArthaKranti Pratisthan, whose members had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times as part of their campaign, said the entire exercise could have been carried out in a better way to ensure people don't face hardship.

"The decision could have been implemented with more sophistication and lesser inconvenience to people. It should have been a bloodless revolution," Anil Bokil, founder of ArthaKranti, told PTI.

"We have no objection to the demonetisation decision. All we think is that it could have been done in a better way. There could have been other ways where people would not have suffered so much. ArthaKranti is against methods that would affect even one person in society," he said.

There could have been some political compulsion in the way the decision was announced on November 8, Bokil said.

"The government should have understood that people would panic and rush to exchange (defunct) notes. It should have been avoided.

"We must not forget that people have accepted the decision. The government is more concerned towards the legal aspect and we are concerned with the system," he said.

For years, ArthaKranti has been advocating for scrapping high-value currency notes to tackle the menace of black money and restructuring tax system.