Solve cash woes before New Year: CM to bankers

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked the officials to take steps for implementing the cashless transactions at all the shops and business establishments across the State from January.

He also set the deadline for bankers to solve the shortage of currency notes in next 17 days.

Participating in a review meeting with bankers and officials of the Finance department here on Tuesday, he said that the State would get Rs 20,000 crore in Rs 500 notes denomination from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) between December 15 and December 20.

“In view of Christmas and Sankranti, ration shop dealers should supply the government gifts and ration without any lapses,” he instructed.

The ration shop dealers were asked to utilise the situation to work as business correspondents.

The bankers were directed to speed up the process to make the ration dealers as business correspondents.

The Chief Minister also expressed displeasure with the officials of Syndicate Bank for not being able to implement cashless transactions in five districts.

He asked the bankers to make cash available at ATMs and banks in cyclone-affected districts.

The officials were also directed to supply E-POS machines.

“People are harbouring hopes that cash woes will ease.

The currency should be dispensed smoothly for account holders. The gap between printed currency and requirement in the market should be filled with digital transactions,” he advised.

Naidu asked the bankers to prepare the public for cashless transactions. “Required infrastructure should be provided for the purpose, he said and asked them to give priority to DWACRA women and pension holders.

Besides, the officials were instructed to speed up farm ponds digging operations in the cyclone-affected districts.

Principal secretary of Finance Sunitha, Command Control Centre special officer Rajasekhar, Rural Development commissioner
Ramanjaneyulu and several officials were also present.