Ahmedabad/Vadodara/Rajkot/Surat: Much longer queues in front of banks and ATM’s across Gujarat appeared this morning even as the first salary/pension of over Eight lakh state government employees/pensioners was credited in their accounts post demonetization today.

Despite the claims of appropriate ‘preparedness’ and increased cash-supply for the day, the continuing high handedness, laxity and arbitrary imposition on the withdrawal limits defying government and RBI orders by many of the banks added to the difficulties of helpless commoners compelled to stand in longer queues.

Many salaried people were seen complaining about the denial by several banks to allow withdrawal in excess of Rs 10,000 through cheque despite the RBI’s instruction of Rs 24000.

An employee of the health department in Surat said he was in need of money and it is in his account now but owing to high handedness of bank he could not withdraw any more than Rs ten thousand. ‘See, we are not against the decision of demonetization and checking of corruption but Modiji (Prime Minister) must also ensure that the corruption of the banks and their high handedness in dealing with commoners should be checked. On the one hand they (the bankers) are giving cash to their acquaintances with ease and even suggesting them to make the black money white, they are imposing arbitrary ban on commoners. Why in the first place are they not allowing us to withdraw the money as permitted by the RBI and the government. Are they above the RBI or the government. The corrupt banking system which had gained notoriety for taking commissions on ‘loans’ and any other transaction even from farmers and other people from lower strata is now peeved at the fact that it has to work hard without any ‘greasing’ of hands. The government should also start cleansing of banking system to ensure proper fruition of the benefits of demonetization and dreams of digital economy to come true,’ he said.

One Jeetu Patel of Rajkot also said that owing to mismanagement of banks people were suffering more. ‘ They are distributing tokens in arbitrary manner. After standing hours in queue, when we are about to reach the counter, they all of a sudden announce that they have run out of cash. The management could have been much better especially on a day when salaries of lakhs of employees and pensioners have been credited in the accounts,’ Patel said adding that the banks were playing a spoilsport of sorts to the noble move of the Prime Minister angering commoners who were otherwise not against demonetization.

J D Oza, a resident of Vadodara said that withdrawal of money and deposit seems virtually impossible today and may be in the next few days till the rush of the salaried class reduces and cash flow increases. ‘I left a queue mid way after standing for almost an hour. It was so long and the movement so slow that I felt it wise to leave. I will loan some money from someone and repay few days back. Banks have turned in to hail. Rush and hustle and high handedness of bank employees is such a pain. ATM’s are also in poor plight with no cash or dispensing virtually useless 2000 notes,’ he said.

Meanwhile, queues much longer than the previous days appeared in front of banks in various cities including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Mahesana, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Valsad etc since early morning long before the opening hours.

Notably, the salaries of over 4.65 lakh Gujarat government, panchayat and grant in aid institution employees and more than 4.12 lakh pensioners has been credited in their accounts today after the denial of the government to pay some amount in cash in the existing scenario of cash crunch caused by demonetization.

DeshGujarat