Cash-strapped ATMs spoil holiday plans

BHOPAL: Even on the third day, there seems to be no end to the cash crunch faced by Bhopalis. Owing to a local government holiday on Wednesday, people found their holiday plans being spoilt on account of lack of cash. Like in the past few days most ATMs remained dry.
While shopkeepers were struggling to carry on business in a cash strapped market, common citizens were facing an equally tough time due to wedding season.
Sandeep Thakur, a farmer in Khajuri village, who is getting married on Thursday, said, "I am getting married and there is no cash at home. I have been struggling to withdraw money from ATMs as nearly all of them are running dry."
He said that he had recently sold his crops and deposited the money in his bank account thinking he would withdraw before his wedding. "But now due to this sudden cash crunch, I don't have enough money at hand," Thakur said. He added, "Due to the government holiday, there was confusion whether the banks were working or not." He said that he would have to take cash on credit from other people in his village. Vishal Joshi, another villager, said, "Recently almost every farmer in the village deposited cash in their bank accounts under the farmer's credit card policy. Now when the farmers are trying to withdraw money, ATMs are out of cash."
Joshi added that almost all of the 200 farmers in the village are facing a tough time due to the cash shortage.