It is day 10 and I have not succeeded in getting cash from ATM. I live few kms outside of city centre of Hyderabad. The urban population is sparse and the main road ends in a cluster of villages. The only ATM that functions for an hour or so is the HDFC ATM although I have heard Andhra Bank ATM functions ocasionally. ICICI bank sends me incessant messages but its ATM has not functioned even for a day. State Bank of India has forgotten it has an important ATM counter on this road. The same is the case for Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank. State Bank of Hyderabad has opened its branch almost hesitatingly with people creeping into it like squirrels.
The nearest branch of my bank is some 7 kms away and I have been told that the wait is long. I have been offered cash on commission by several people. I have tried to stay honest and on the path as best as I can.
Some apps have emerged in the market which helps you with cash information in ATMs in your area. One of these is the cashnocash.com. I have been using it frequently with the hope I might land the jackpot. Now these apps are crowdsourced and not everyone registers information honestly. They are not reliable but they show some possible movement of cash.
I have, over the past few days, built a rapport with security guards at ATMs, HDFC in particular. I was told that the cash van would appear around 3 pm today. Accordingly I checked the app at 3:30 pm to see if someone had withdrawn cash. Someone had. So I rushed over. Well, the cash van hadn't shown up and few had decided to wait. I joined in. It is nice to have community solidarity around cash crisis.
The local kirana shop owner saw me waiting and immediately picked me up. "Why do you wait in a line when I have offered you help?" I stare at him. He continues, "It is okay if gents are waiting in line but I am sad that a lady is also waiting." I reply, "If others can wait, I can too." He knows me and quietly opens his cash drawer and offers me cash for Rs 1000. "Give me later. But instead of waiting in a line, come here."
As they say, it is in the times of crisis, you find out who your friends are. I think I found one. The other one is my help, M. She has been watching over. Yesterday, she brought me some over-the-counter allergy medicines. "Don't give any money now" she said. I nod gratefully.
There's a part of me that wants to be in India to see everything first hand and not form an opinion based on news, tweets and texts. But then there's the other part, the more practical one, that thanks his stars for not been in a position like the one you wrote about. In my memory and knowledge, no public policy has divided the people and their opinions so much.
ReplyDeleteHope you got cash now, with or without help! Stay strong :)
Day 16: No cash in ATMs in 5kms radius. In fact, they are shuttered down. I have yet to see I-know-they-have-black-money folks in my area with lights on through the night. In fact, the upper middle class has banking relationships. So they don't really have to wait in lines. Those who don't stand in queues. Post office does not accept old notes for transactions and is not card-friendly either. Every day rule changes. Frankly, I am frustrated. Those who live in the centre of metros and swipe cards simply don't get what it is outside.
Delete