New currency notes in ATMs from Friday: Finance secy

The new hard-to-fake Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes will be available at bank ATMs when they start operating again from Friday, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said on Wednesday.

“There are going to be some difficulties which they (people) will face but for their convenience, a number of steps have been taken by the government, there are facilities to withdraw money from ATM and exchange currency at banks, withdraw money from accounts,” he said on government withdrawing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from circulation to crack down on black money and counterfeit currency.

People, he said, do understand the objective behind the move. “And I’m sure they will cooperate in dealing with the difficulties and inconvenience that they might face. And eventually things will settle down.”

Lavasa said people need money for transaction so for replacement that currency is being introduced.

“The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) will very strictly monitor it,” he said. “For doing any transaction there are different ways, the government’s intention is to move towards cash less transaction,” he said.

The ATMs will open on Friday and at many places they will open on Thursday, he said adding new notes will be available at ATMs.

Asked about the slump in stock market indices, he said, “The market would have reacted to several other developments. Let’s wait and watch how things pan out.”

“If there is anything required to be done by them I am sure they will take a look and take appropriate decision at the right time,” he said on market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India looking into the crash.

Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian said: “I think this is an important step. What the government has taken in the fight against corruption, counterfeiting and black money. So I think over the medium term we will see the benefits probably."

IMAGE: A policeman keeps a watch on people lined-up outside an ATM to withdraw 100 rupee notes and deposite 500 and 1,000 rupee notes in Chennai on Tuesday. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo