Bhatkal: The sufferings of people have not come to an end even on the 6th consecutive day after the demonetization of the big currency notes of Rs500 and Rs1000. The banks around the taluk have exchanged old notes of crores of rupees in past 5days, but this has not provided any relief to the public. The public are still standing in long queues holding old notes for exchange. Restless and disturbed public, unable to get the basic needs from the market go to the banks early morning & stand in the long queues, which resembles as if some relief camp is going on in the banks.
In order to provide relief to the public, some groups have taken the task of providing people with drinking water. Two overhead tents have also been set up outside the Bhatkal SBI to respite people from bright sunlight. The people, leaving behind all their household works, shops and businesses are seen standing in the queues, because of which the business around the town is severely affected and the markets have remained closed. Unable to buy a single drinking water bottle for lack of change, people are tensed for being unable to make a choice between buying a drinking water bottle or any other basic need with the minute or no loose change in their possessions.
The ATM issue is yet to be solved. On Monday the ATM's of a few banks were opened, but for no more than 2 hours. The people had to once again rush towards the banks to continue standing in very long queues to draw the change or exchange the notes. Flowers and cracker vendors were in trouble despite the ongoing Tulsi festival and other programs in the town. People aren't able to buy flowers and crackers as they do not have loose change to buy them. Though a number of people have received the new currency note of Rs2000, this is of little help to them for now as the vendors or the buyers have no loose change to pay for small stuffs. This has totally affected the business in town.