Baripada: Even 26 days after the Centre’s demonetisation move, life has still not been on normal track in many parts of Shyamkhunta block in Mayurbhanj district with tribals facing difficulties in availing new currencies and depositing their invalid Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.
No concrete step has been taken to remove their plight, the tribals said.
Though mobile banking has been launched in many areas, tribals living at the foothills of Similiapal sanctuary and other areas have not yet exchanged or deposited their invalid high value notes due to delay in getting information about it or lack of awareness about it.
Bhaja Majhi (65), a resident of Mankadagutu village, is a case in point.
His two sons are working outside the state while he has been left with his wife at home. Majhi is unable to venture out of home because of his illness. After spending all small value notes in purchase of medicines and other household expenditure, he is now left with two Rs 500 notes which are of no use to him.
He got the two notes after selling a pair of bullocks a few days ago. The two high value notes matter much to him at this time of cash crunch, Majhi said. “Now, I am unable to go out to get the notes exchanged. Besides, banks are too far from my village. When my sons will return, they will exchange the notes,” he rued.
Same is the case with Bariha Majhi, a resident of neigbouring village Sarat. He had no idea about the need for exchanging old notes untill he was told by someone about it.
“I had once gone to a bank far from my village, but had to return frustrated as there was a huge queue that day,” he added.
Like Bhaja and Bariha, score of tribals have not yet been able to exchange their old notes and have been suffering from daily problems. Surprisingly, the administration and banks have not come to their rescue. PNN
