Whether demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes will rein in black money is debatable, considering experiences in the past. But the government’s decision to allow only government hospitals to accept these currency notes is arbitrary, unimaginative and even cruel.
It is common knowledge that government hospitals, barring the premier ones in the national capital, are understaffed and ill-equipped. The amount allocated for health care in our country as a percentage of gross domestic product is lower than that of Bangladesh.
This leaves many people with little option but to approach private hospitals. TV channels showing visuals of women wailing because their near and dear ones are being denied treatment by private hospitals, which are refusing to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes make for difficult viewing.
Private hospitals and pharmacies should be mandated to accept demoneitised notes till November 30 rather than asking the Archaeological Survey of India to accept these currencies.
The government of India as well as the Reserve Bank of India must show some sensitivity.
S K Choudhury, Bengaluru
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