Demonetisation drive: When loads of cash brings little joy

NEW DELHI: Cashiers at banks have taken the worst knock among bank employees involved in the government's demonetisation drive. According to several bank officials, cashiers on a daily basis are taking a hit of at Rs 2,000 on their salaries once least they settle the accounts.

“This is a humongous operation and we are exchanging currency at least worth Rs 1.35 crore in a day . It so happens that sometimes we end up exchanging more than the amount deposited,“ said a cashier with a state-run bank, adding that the amount is deducted from his salary .

Another cashier told ET that in the past three days, he has been fined Rs 3,000 because of the mismatch in accounts.This money is going from my own pocket,“ he rued. The government has told banks that the currency exchange facility is a one-time option.

A cashier working with a state-run bank said that the government should immediately stop the currency exchange facility. “It is nothing but money laundering. Even five-year olds with an Aadhaar card are queuing up to get Rs 4,500 in new currency denominations,“ he said.

Earlier in the day, economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das said it was brought to the notice that the same people were repeatedly coming back to exchange currency, thus leading to long queues.

The government has also decided to set up an expert committee to work out standard operating procedure to take additional steps to manage the crowds.