Day 5- People stand hours at banks, ATMs

Two more elderly people die in queues that get longer

On the fifth day after the government’s decision to withdraw the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, sending the country into an economic emergency as money became worthless overnight, the common man was the worst hit. Every city and town in India saw men and women waiting in long , serpentine queues, desperate to exchange their old hard earned cash.

The anger against the decision was palpable as day turned to afternoon and evening but service was unavailable. The women who were forced to wait and wait endlessly were in tears as there was no money to buy milk and food for their children at home. The picture appears bleak for the ordinary citizens if this is going to continue as elderly people are dying in queues and situation in hospitals is fast turning tragic due to the cash crunch.

The Prime Minister who had embarked on a 4 day trip to Japan, soon after announcement of this crucial decision on November 8^th, returned to India and made an emotional appeal to people, asking them to cooperate for 50 more days. He also said that there was danger to his life, that he has left his family and home to serve the nation and vowed to fight black money even if he was burnt alive.

Laudable sentiments but the prospect of 50 more days of such helplessness seems unthinkable to the ordinary citizens of this country.

-UDAAN