Despite repeated efforts from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to reassure that remonetisation situation and replenishment of cash is “almost normal”, it appears that ATMs wearing “no-cash” or “out of service” boards is the reality.
Economic Affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das today sought to quell public anxiety that all was not well on the cash front even after more than 100 days of demonetisation. “Enough cash available. Logistics issues of reloading ATMs more frequently being addressed,” Das tweeted today.
While he admitted that complaints were aplenty about insufficient cash in ATMs, presumably from all over the country, he urged people not to withdraw more than the cash they need. “Overdrawal by some deprives others,” he tweeted.
Das also ruled out reports of plans to introduce a new version of Rs 1,000 notes. The government is currently focused on stepping up production and supply of Rs 500 and other lower denomination currencies, he added.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation on November 8, he had sought 50 days for the situation to come back to normalcy.
Later, he had extended it to a few more weeks. The demonetisation exercise has come in for major criticism in terms of implementation and for what it has achieved so far.
