C-Voter poll: Over 80% don't mind inconvenience of demonetisation

NEW DELHI: The demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes is being seen positively by a large part of the population cutting across the lines of age, income levels and area of residence, a nationwide survey conducted by C-Voter has suggested. A whopping 80-86 per cent of those surveyed said the inconvenience caused by the demonetisation is worth the effort of combating black money.

C-Voter, an international polling agency headquartered in India, conducted its survey in close to half the total parliamentary constituencies on Monday.

The wide-ranging support for the demonetisation cut across the barriers of categorisation. The numbers remained consistently high when broken down on the basis of area of residence, income levels or by age groups.







A landslide 86 per cent of the respondents living in urban and rural areas said the inconvenience was worth it. This was 80.6 per cent in semi-urban areas. The highest level of support however seems to come from those from the higher income group, 90.6 per cent of whom said the move is worth it. Also tellingly, the lowest level of support in the 'below 25', 25-45, 45-60 and 60+ was 83.3 per cent.

A picture of broad support also emerged for those who thought the demonetisation was a 'good move and equally well implemented'. This sentiment was reflected in 71 per cent of those surveyed in urban areas, 65.1 per cent in semi-rural zones and 59.4 per cent of rural respondents.




Conversely, 23.8 per cent of urban, 24.3 percent of semi-urban and 36 per cent of rural respondents agreed with the charge of some opposition parties that demonetisation was a 'good step but poorly implemented'.

Significant pluralities of the respondents also said the problems caused by the demonetisation were 'little, easily manageable'. This was reflected by 38 per cent in urban, 35.5 per cent in semi-urban areas and 36.8 per cent in rural belts.

The difficulties that the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were perceived as an 'unmanageable disaster' by about 12.6 per cent. However, rising income levels saw a fall in the number of people who saw the situation as disastrous - 4.4 per cent of high income group, 12.6 percent of middle income group and 15.1 per cent of the lower income group respondents.

Well over 55 per cent of those polled thought support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take a beating if he succumbs to political pressure and rolls back the demonetisation of the currency. This view was held by 62.6 per cent in urban, 67.3 per cent in semi-urban and 54.8 per cent in rural pockets.