Ground reports suggest a big number in the Chhattisgarh Maoist strongholds are unaware of the cash ban
Locals in Gundul village in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district are amazed to see the new Rs 2,000 notes. They had only heard of the currency ban at a nearby market.
Sukhdev, a farmer who doubles up as a cook at a government school in this Maoist-affected area in the Bastar division, recently gave his life's savings, all of Rs 11,000 in banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to an acquaintance to get it exchanged, despite having a Jan Dhan bank account.
"I did not deposit the amount in my account as I was told that if I delay, the notes will be of no use. So out of panic I gave the money. I was told that the deadline for currency deposit or exchange is November 30."
Sukhdev's bank branch is 50 kilometre away and given his two jobs he said he could not have spared the time to queue up at the bank.
About 40 kilometre away in Sangam village, farmer Vidhan Mistry only came to know of the currency ban when someone refused to accept his Rs 500 note. He does not have a bank account and is worried about his money since the banks have stopped the exchange of old notes.
"I just sold my paddy crop and the buyer gave me Rs 500 notes. I am not aware that they have been banned. I will ask the buyer to change the notes," Mr Mistry told NDTV.
At the Sangam village's weekly market, local shopkeepers say business has dropped as turnout has been very low since the currency ban.
Shopkeeper Kishore Haldar said, "Since the currency ban, the tribal who come to the weekly market from the nearby 6-7 villages are confused and are very cautiously spending their money. Our businesses have come down by 50 per cent."
As per the district administration data, there are about 2 lakh families in Kanker district of which over 80 per cent families have Jan Dhan bank accounts.
But ground reports highlight that a significant part of the population, especially in remote rural areas such as the Maoist strongholds of Chhattisgarh, are still unaware of the currency ban and how to tackle it.