The traders body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) wrote to Finance Ministry seeking probe to assess the health threats posed by currency notes. Citing various studies, CAIT claimed that notes were contaminated with pathogens and warned of their potential to transit several diseases including urinary meningitis, toxic shock syndrome and a variety of gastro-intestinal diseases.
Writing it to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that “although science journals have been publishing these alarming facts almost every year, sadly no cognizance has been taken of this serious public health issue.”
Praveen added that the trading community is the largest user of currency notes and if the reports are valid, the said currency notes are vulnerable to the health of not only the traders but even the consumers as well.
Praveen further demanded the Government, the Medical Council of India and Indian Medical Association, to investigate whether and to what extent the notes are contaminated.
