Tripura adjusts to demonetisation, introduces mobile ATMs

Agartala, Tripura: Exactly a month after the demonitisation drive in the country things are almost normal in India's north eastern state of Tripura, with locals appreciating the Centre's bold step.  Banks have introduced mobile ATMs that move from one busy point to the next to save the time of customers waiting for cash. "Initially there was problem as only Rs.2000 notes were there and we had to wait in long queues (outside ATM), but now, this mobile ATM is helping us to get small denomination notes and is reaching every point. Today, I could withdraw money from one, and most importantly, get Rs. 500 notes," Gayatri Choudhury, a college teacher, said. "Replacing Rs. 1000 notes with Rs. 2000 notes was a problem, but now, hopefully, we have got relief from that," she added. Ashim Bhattacharjee, a medical representative, said, "I think whatever step has been taken on demonitisation is good. The government's step is good and we have not had much of a problem. The situation is improving gradually. Today, we got the mobile ATM service and it is really good." To serve people in the market places, who are in need of liquid cash, banks have set up a mini-ATM from which anyone will be able to withdraw Rs 2,500 after swiping their cards in the machine. Besides, busy market places the mobile exchange vans would also visit other places like hospitals so that patient parties can get notes without having to leave the premises of the hospital. Meantime, very little number of people we found outside banks and ATM counters which again shows that the situation is almost normal. However, people complained on the unavailability of small denomination notes. While another person claimed that though there is little rush in the ATM counters but in the bank counters it is almost normal. P N Chowdhury, who had withdrawn cash from a bank counter, claimed, "In the very beginning, it was problematic, but in the last few days I have seen that the situation has become normal. Though within ATM counters, there is a scarcity (of notes) but at bank counters, it is almost normal. There is a problem at this moment. Since the demonetisation drive began on November 8 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the situation is fast improving and it is finally pushing India's most cash-based economy in the North East towards cashless transactions.