Marriages hit by demonetisation

Kadapa: Several marriages have been postponed in the district following the Central government’s demonetisation announcement. A farmer Balla Reddy Praneeth Kumar Reddy, who belongs to Kumarampalle village in Vempalle mandal, said that he had fixed his daughter marriage on November 15 as it was the auspicious month. The farmer said he had approached the bank the day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of scrapping Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. But, bank authorities refused to give me required cash, he added.

The farmer said he had already paid advances for function hall, flower decorators and caterers. “I have postponed the marriage as it is difficult to perform without money,” he added. Asked about government allowing withdrawal of Rs 2.5 lakh from bank, he said that money will not be sufficient to meet breakfast and lunch costs of marriage.

The TTD’s Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple located at Devuni Kadapa is famous for performing marriages. Only few marriages were performed due to currency shortage.

Businessmen, who were providing services to marriages here, are distressed as number of marriages has come down.

Speaking to The Hans India, Payyavula Sivacharan, who runs flower decorator shop, said that he has never seen such dull business in the last 15 years. “If the same situation prevails for some more time then I will wind up my business,” he said.

A marriage-bureau owner Gangoji Veerachandra Chari, who belongs to Pathakadapa, said the sudden decision of the Centre had affected his business. “Now, people prefer only engagements but not marriages. They are prepared to postpone marriages for next November,” he added. He stated that he had fixed 25 marriages in the same month last year. This year, I can fix only one or two marriages, he added. Is it possible to perform a marriage with Rs 2.5 lakh, he asked.