Cash crunch hits last rites in Noida, Ghaziabad

The mismanagement and non-availability of cash have not only led to a very difficult situation for the common man even after 22 days of demonetisation, but has not even spared the dead. 

Abounding incidents have been reported where relatives of the dead are found struggling in hospitals to get the bodies released while somewhere else, they are found busy arranging cash to get them cremated. The two recent and relevant incidents have been reported from Noida and Ghaziabad where two bodies have had to wait for several hours in getting their last rites performed. Sadly, a 62-year-old lady from Noida died due to prolonged illness whose body had to wait for more than 24 hours before getting buried as the bank refused withdrawal of money. 

In another case, family members of a 64-year-old person from Ghaziabad, who died due to cancer, had to struggle with cash availability in getting treatment in the hospital while the battle for cash continued for even many hours after he breathed his last. 

Deceased Phoolmati Devi, who used to sell vegetables in the local markets of Noida, used to stay with her family in Noida’s Sector 9 area. “My mother was suffering from cancer. Despite having Rs 16,000 in my Bank of India branch, the bank refused to give money saying that they did not have any money. Next day, we again went to the bank and got the same reply,” said her son.

“The deceased’s son came to us for the cash withdrawal but we did not have cash to give him,” said the bank manager. The family members protested and alleged that bank officials had given money to people with high-level contacts. The bank’s refusal made them lose all hope in finding ways to perform the last rites of their mother but as police reached the spot, a Sub-Inspector gave the family Rs 2,000 and a local politician also extended help of Rs 10,000 to the deceased’s family and they somehow managed to perform her funeral.

Another incident in Ghaziabad was reported after Munnalal, a cancer patient, died during treatment in Guru Teg Bahadur hospital. 

The bank, in which the deceased had an account too refused to give them money which made the family members wait for hours for the funeral. However, the bank manager insisted that other customers make individual contributions and the kin of the deceased managed to garner Rs 17,000 for the last rites.