Ever since the Prime Minister stunned the nation with the announcement that Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes would cease to be legal tender from November 8, there has been confusion across the nation.
From getting information and replacement notes across the people, there have been problems at every turn for the government and it has constantly been tweaking its policy for people to access their own funds and exchange their own notes.
Here are some of the changes made that have only added to the confusion:
Original decision: People can withdraw only Rs 10,000 in a day and Rs 20,000 in a week.
New decision: Get wedding invitation, take Rs 2.5 lakh in cash
The problem with this: The whole point of this exercise seemed to be that people would be forced to use documented funds and curb the spend of unaccounted cash. However, the government on Thursday suddenly announced that people who turned up with wedding invitations at a bank could withdraw up to Rs 2.5 lakh in cash.
This comes after the rumour that you could present a wedding card that has been verified by a Deputy Commissioner of Police to withdraw Rs 5 lakh for a wedding. Turns out that WhatsApp forward was half right after all, and you don’t even need a police official’s verification, which some have pointed out can be easily misused.
Does that mean one can print a fake wedding invite and withdraw Rs 2.5 lakh as well? How are they implementing it?
— Sahad PV (@sahadpv) November 17, 2016
On 24th December this guy is going to announce that Santa Claus will accept old notes if you show him PAN Card. https://t.co/ISAEmNWd5U
— Rohan (@mojorojo) November 17, 2016
Supporters of the decision say that it is accountable money that is being withdrawn. But once it goes into the hands of a contractor involved in the wedding, it easily becomes unaccounted cash again. How exactly is this curbing unaccounted money (aka black money)?
Original decision: You could change up to Rs 4,500 in old notes
New decision: Exchange limit reduced to Rs 2000
After saying that people would be marked with indelible ink when they go to banks to exchange cash, the government on Thursday said that people would now be able to exchange only Rs 2000 in a transaction. Remember, this transaction can be carried out by an individual only technically only once.
The problem with this: People without bank accounts have to figure alternate measures to deposit/exchange their old notes. Also a person can convert a lower sum of money which will only put more pressure to find alternate means to convert/ exchange old notes if they don’t have a bank account. Also it doesn’t really reduce lines as such because it just became better to stand in a line to withdraw funds instead.
Old decision: You show id proof to exchange funds
New decision: You are marked with indelible ink
After it was found people were misusing the exchange scheme to make multiple exchanges of cash, the government announced that it would mark people with indelible ink when they exchange funds. But will the ink marks remain till December 30, which is the deadline to exchange old notes?
The problem with this: Reports said many private banks did not exchange money for an entire day in some cases since they didn’t have stocks of ink to mark customers with.
Old decision: You have to exchange old notes by November 14
New decision: You have till December 30 to exchange them
The problem with this: The original deadline gave people just six days to exchange their old notes for cash they could use. For those who have no bank account, it made it a desperate attempt to get some cash in hand.
One of the six days was a bank holiday in many parts of India, one of the those days was given for banks to deal with the decision. In many parts of India like Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states, money didn’t reach on the first scheduled day for exchange.
Couldn’t the government have declared an earlier deadline to exchange old notes up front and spared people the panic?
Original decision: People can withdraw only Rs 10,000 in a day and Rs 20,000 in a week.
New decision: People can withdraw upto Rs 24,000 in a week. Rs 10,000 limit scrapped
The problem with this: If you were among the first to get in line to withdraw money in desperation after the demonetisation announcement then you could withdraw only Rs 10,000 in day. This was changed on November 15 to Rs 24,000 in a week with no specific daily limit. Maybe the original decision was done to ensure there was enough cash for everyone, but for a change being the early bird didn’t really help.
Original decision: People can use old notes at government-owned outlets, railways, metro till November 14
New decision: People can use old notes at government-owned outlets, railways, metro till November 24
The problem with this: The outlets were never geared for the rush of people who would be seeking to use their old currency notes.
Despite the extension, many of the organisations have not been able to cater to people who gave them the old currency notes and in some cases has resulted in people hoarding from government-owned stores that don’t have adequate change.
The demonetisation remains one of the most ambitious moves to tackle unaccounted wealth in the country. But given the constant tweaks, the government hasn’t made it any easier for its citizens.
