Recalibration of ATMs will take some time, says Jaitley
Banks and ATMs on Saturday witnessed more chaos and even longer queues as cash-starved people jostled to exchange and withdraw money at bank branches, even as cash dispensing machines went dry soon due to heavy rush.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley held a press conference at the National Media Centre, New Delhi after a meeting he had with heads of three banks, including SBI, the country’s largest bank.
Highlights of the presser:
3.55 p.m.: ”RBI exploring if more smaller currencies need to be circulated to meet the requirement.
3.52 p.m.: Depending on the rush, government will decide if banks have to operate on weekends as well.
3.49 p.m.: There are some recommendations pending with the government on concessions to encourage cashless transactions.
3.47 p.m.: Government advises people to deposit money in their accounts and withdraw.
3.46 p.m.: In some States, banks will be open on Mondays.
3.45 p.m.: Government has definite information on terror funding and procurement of weapons.
3.44 p.m.: Cheque is more safe mode of payment.
3.43 p.m.: Government will ask Banking Affairs Secretary for instructions to banks on helping senior citizens in smooth exchange of notes.
3.41 p.m.: More security features in new notes; would be difficult to counterfeit them.
3.38 p.m.: Large wholesalers need not just rely on cash transactions. The experience in the last two-and-a-half days is that any exception would lead to misuse. No concessions to any section in currency exchange.
3.37 p.m.: Today the energy is concentrated on smooth and quick replacement of money. Enforcement Directorate and other departments concerned are keeping a close watch on any illegal activities.
3.36 p.m.: Big regret is that people are getting inconvenienced, but currency replacement of this magnitude will cause problems. There are long but orderly queues.There are reports that money has been deposited in Jan Dhan accounts. This will be checked.
3.33 p.m.: Those in businesses should start using digital payment gateways, cards and banking system. Life will become simpler in the new financial system that is only viable option.
3.31 p.m.: Currency chest has sufficient cash, which is being transported to banks and post offices.
3.30 p.m.: People spreading rumours, like the one related to salt price. A close watch being kept on reports of bullion being used to convert cash.
3.29 p.m.: Some have alleged that bank deposits increased from July to September, alluding that the information on currency exchange was leaked. However, as per RBI records, In the last one year, there was a spike in deposits in in September only. It was due to disbursal of pay commission arrears.
3.26 p.m.: Among political reactions, there were irresponsible ones too. Some people have problems from the efforts to cleanse the system. Some are asking for one more week.
3.25 p.m.: Since new notes are of diffirent sizes, it is taking time to recaliberate the ATMs. That is why mostly Rs.100 notes are being dispensed from ATMS right now. Recalibration will take some time.
3.23 p.m.: Technology limitations are there, since secrecy was important. Two lakh ATM machines could not be calibrated for dispensing new notes.
3.22 p.m.: There are challenges in execution; people are turning up in large numbers and they will keep coming in the next few days. The government requests them that the deposit time is till December 30.
3.21 p.m.: Currency replacement of such magnitude takes time.
3.20 p.m.: A sum of Rs. 7,868 crore deposited in the SBI; total deposits estimated five times more. SBI exchanged notes of 58 lakh people. Twenty-two lakh people operated at ATMs, 33 lakh have withdrawn.
3.18 p.m.: The SBI, which handles 20-25 per cent of total banking, has till 12.15 p.m. today conducted 2.28 crore transactions. Five transactions involved in banks:, cash deposit, withdrawal from cash, cash to cash exchange, ATM cah withdrawal and cah deposit machines being used. This apart from post offices.
3.16 p.m.: Twenty to 25% of banking in India is by the SBI.
3.15 p.m.: When govt decided to replace Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes, there were expectations that in couple of days, people would queue up to replace a significant part, 86 per cent. It is a massive operation.
3.14 p.m.: Finance Ministry monitoring currency replacement constantly.
3.13 p.m.: Banking personnel should be lauded for their tireless work. “Government thanks primarily two sections. There is huge rush for currency replacement. But, people are cooperating despite problems. Bank employees also working day and night to execute the work properly.”
