Shortage of lower denomition notes hits students

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 17: Shortage of currencies of lesser denomitions has hit the student community especially those coming from outside the state very hard. This is evident from those students who failed to withdraw money of Rs 100, 500 and 1000 denomitions. “I have Rs 1600 in my account and I couldn’t withdraw Rs 1000 because the ATMs have only Rs 2000 notes,” rued a student from galand.

Another student from Mizoram said, “On two occasions in the last ten days, I had to travel from corner to another corner of Shillong to withdraw the little bit of money available with me,” adding, “since we are away from home with no way to ask hard cash from our parents, life has become miserable.”

While the lines in the ATMs are shorter during the night, a group of students told this correspondent: “Most of the hostel for girls prohibits any hotelier to venture out after 7 pm and hence we run around and stand in long queues during the day in any outlets that has money.”

Even the residents of the city with less than Rs 2000 in their account are grousing. “All the ATMs I visited on Friday and Saturday do not dispense Rs 100,500 or 1000 notes,” a resident of Shyip said.

Last week, Secretary, Fince Sanjay Goyal told The Sentinel that they have taken it up with the RBI and the problem will ease out. Goyal also said that there will be cash flow particularly the currency of lesser denomition.