Following its demonetisation decision on Nov 8, government claims that the inconvenience is temporary but harsh reality is that the decision has taken toll on people.
Ironically, Prime Minister Modi also claimed that his demonetisation decision was somewhat ‘kadak’ (strong) linking it to his ‘chaiwallah’ background. “When I was young, poor people used to tell me: Modiji, chai jara kadak banana.” He said he knows the same ‘kadak chai’ doesn’t go down well with the rich. Addressing a BJP Parivartan Yatra rally in Ghazipur in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister said because of the decision “gareeb chayn ki neend so raha hai aur amir neend ki goliyan khareedne ke liye bazaar mein chakkar kaat raha hai (the poor are getting sound sleep while the restless rich are searching the markets for sleeping pills).
Over the course of the week after the announcement was made, people have flocked to ATMs and banks to exchange and deposit their notes. With old currency tended illegal overnight, the banks and ATMs saw unprecedented crowds with serpentine lines that include people from all strata of society.
As the lines grew longer with the banking hours, more people started to feel the wrath of it. As per reports pouring in from different parts of country and the claims of family members, the death toll as of now has risen to 25.
In a tragic incident, a 55-year-old woman, who has been treated in hospital since last few months died on Sunday morning after her husband failed to exchange old currency notes to buy medicines.
The deceased has been identified Madhuri Devi resident of village Barn of Jharkhand.
As per reports, her husband, Kullo Singh, who belongs to BPL category, had left with no money after government bans old ₹ 500 and ₹600 currency notes.
Kullo Singh regularly visits at Maheshpur bank branch to exchange currency. Due to heavy rush, he failed to withdraw money leading to his wife’s death. Ironically, he has not been received any assistance from the government so far.
Uttar Pradesh
A 20-year-old woman committed suicide when her brother failed to get the cash exchanged.
A 24-year-old woman committed suicide by hanging herself to the ceiling fan after failing to get the cash exchanged.
A child died after the hospital asked the parents to deposit an advance of ₹10,000. The child’s parents had only old currency notes.
An old woman allegedly died while counting notes. She had almost ₹2.69 lakh (old currency) which was found next to her body.
In another disturbing case, a young man who had just sold his land for ₹70 lakhs died of cardiac arrest soon after the announcement was made.
Doctors refused to treat a child suffering with high fever after his parents ran out of ₹100 notes.
A washerwoman, who had saved two ₹1,000 note died of shock when she reached the bank on the same day to deposit money.
A businessman died of cardiac arrest soon after Modi’s announcement.
Karnataka
A 40-year-old woman committed suicide after she found out that the cash she had brought with herself to get exchanged was stolen.
A 96-year-old man died while waiting in a queue.
Gujarat
A 50-year-old woman committed suicide as she wasn’t able to buy ration to feed the family.
A 69-year-old man allegedly died of cardiac arrest while waiting in the queue to get the cash exchanged.
A 47-year-old farmer died of heart attack while waiting in the queue.
Chhattisgarh
A 45-year-old farmer, who failed to exchange ₹3000 at the bank to send to his children for three consecutive days, committed suicide.
Madhya Pradesh
A 69-year-old Vinay Kumar Pandey died while waiting in queue.
A State Bank of India cashier died of heart attack.
Mumbai
A hospital refused to admit an ill newborn child when parents failed to deposit new notes.
A 72-year-old man died while waiting in queue.
Andhra Pradesh
An 18-month-old infant died as the parents didn’t have money to buy medicine.
Rajasthan
A newborn baby died when the ambulance refused to take the child on being given ₹500 and ₹1,000 note as payment.
Telangana
A woman who had some ₹54 lakh in cash committed suicide after hearing the announcement.
Bihar
A 45-year-old man died of heart attack as he had saved ₹35,000 as dowry for his daughter’s wedding.
Kerala
In a tragic accident, a 45-year-old man fell off the from the second floor of the bank and died.
A 75-year-old man died while waiting in the queue.
