Long queues continue outside banks, ATMs

Long queues were seen outside banks and ATMs on Tuesday as many anxious customers waited for the sixth consecutive day to deposit or exchange their spiked currency or take out cash.

People appeared distressed as they apprehended machines might fail to dispense cash that would mean managing their daily needs impossible.

Amandeep Saluja stood in the queue for around three hours outside an ICICI bank ATM in Model Town but could not manage to withdraw cash.

"The ATM ran out of cash just when there were only five persons left in the queue in front of me. Of course, apart from around a hundred others behind me," she said.

 

"Since then, I am using plastic money and also borrowed some money from my relatives."

However, she said that she would not withdraw money again (until things turned normal) as it was not really worth it.

There were options for app-based services and her office provided meals and pick-and-drop facilities.

"Let people who are really in need get it first," she said.

Another anxious cash-strapped youth said that he did not have any ready cash with him.

"If I don't get cash then I would not be able to mange my livelihood," he told IANS.

A housewife said the government's sudden announcement has brought her life to a standstill. She was standing in a queue leaving all her other works pending.

"We will die in hunger if we will not get cash. Instead of cooking breakfast for my children, I am standing in queue so that I can get cash to buy bread and butter," Kalpana, a housewife said.

Rupa, a woman working in a private company, said that she was unable to concentrate on her job. Everyday she stands in ATM queues for hours. The "cashlessness" was affecting both her personal and professional life.

Despite facing difficulty, some people supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision of demonetisation of high-value currency notes and said that they were ready to face any situation for the sake of the country.

--IANS

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