People's travails continue

People continued to suffer for the sixth consecutive day in the wake of the November 8 demonetisation of high-denomination currency notes as thousands mobbed banks across the city on Tuesday.

Men and women stood in serpentine queues for hours to exchange the spiked notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination with new ones and/or to withdraw cash from their accounts to meet their daily expenses.

The situation remained chaotic at banks and security men had a tough time controlling the crowds.With most ATMs remaining closed, no relief was in sight for people facing a severe cash crunch.

With new currency notes of Rs 500 yet to arrive at banks, the hapless people could not do anything but wait. Those who got Rs 2,000 notes were clearly disappointed.

Adding to their woes, some banks refused to exchange notes of people who availed of the facility last week.
"I stood in the queue for three hours, only to be told by bank officials that I will not be able to exchange notes since I had already exchanged Rs 4,000 last week.

This is despite the fact that I hold an account in this bank," griped Mohammed Shareef at ICICI Bank's Toli Chowki branch in Hyderabad.

When asked, bank executives said the 'system' can't accept more than one exchange for one person.
In another violation of rules, the said bank branch officials also refused to exchange the spiked currency of those not maintaining accounts in the branch.

Many people complained that bank officials were attending only to a few influential and major customers known to them.

"I waited for more than two hours but bank officials said they can't give me new notes as I don't have an account," said G Narsaiah, a construction worker, who came to exchange Rs 2,000 in old notes.

"What will I do with these notes of Rs 2,000? Nobody has change in the market," said another customer who was given two notes of high-denomination currency in exchange.

Women and elderly people suffered a lot as there were no separate queues at a majority of the banks.

Here’s how you can celebrate

Refrain from spreading rumours
Salt is very much in sufficient quantities and there’s no ‘Trade Union Strike’ and most of all, the new notes are not coming with GPS trackers.

Don’t believe everything you read on social media and refrain from self-appointed journalism

Keep calm and exchange notes
The government has assured there’s adequate cash for everyone. Have faith and keep those new note selfies coming.

Say ‘no’ to violence and anger. Be the ‘Munna Bhais’ and follow ‘Gandhigiri’

Volunteer
Whether it’s passing out drinking water or refreshing tea or coffee, take 10 minutes out to help waiting in queues for upto 2km outside banks.

Don’t cut queues
This ain’t no sport. Wait for your turn.

Cooperate with bank staff
They’re clocking 12 hours to 14 hours and working on holidays ONLY for you. Follow procedure inside bank: Make it easy for everyone.

Say thank you
Last, but not the least, the simplest one in the book to spread peace is to show gratitude to the banker who is only doing a job in the best possible way he/she can. If nothing, it’ll bring a smile to their tired faces.