With salaries in accounts, Delhiites fight for a few notes in wallets too

Chaotic scenes and seemingly never-ending queues could be seen outside banks and ATMs as hundreds began to withdraw their salaries to meet their monthly expenses and to pay for domestic helps, maids, drivers, monthly grocery bills and other utility bills. 

Cash-strapped people were seen waiting in frustration as most of the cash dispensing machines ran out of money within hours after being stocked while thousands of ATMs are still not functional in the Capital. 

Parth Kohli G, a software engineer in a private firm, after waiting for quite long outside an ATM said: “It is quite disturbing that we can’t even withdraw our salaries on time because of so much rush. I am standing for the past three hours and what I get in return is a cashless ATM.” Shourya Gupta, a resident of Nirankari Colony, said he lined up at Punjab National Bank early in the morning, expecting huge rush. “I did not want to experience what I experienced last month so I came early. But, it was of no use. The bank officials said the van has not arrived yet with the money and that it will take some time. Expecting a timely salary even after 50 days of demonetisation seems useless.” 

Post demonetisation, the queues at most ATMs and banks in North Delhi were more than what one would expect. There were complaints that cash dispensing machines were either dry or shut and customers were not able to draw their salaries. 

Rahil Jain, a Human Resource manager of a multinational company in Gurugram and a resident of Model Town said: “I visited the banks less last time as I did not have any urgent cash need and at times I withdrew money from State Bank of India ATM near my house”. But, the ATMs near my house are so overcrowded these days that there is no possibility of coming back home with some cash,” he added.

An MNC employee, Mayank Verma, said he had come to withdraw Rs 24,000 from his bank account and clear all his dues of the last two months.