ITANAGAR, Nov 24 - Deputed by the Centre for making an on-the-spot assessment of demonetisation drive in Arunachal Pradesh, MM Kutty, Additional Secretary, Government of India, called on State Chief Minister Pema Khandu here on Wednesday. They discussed the impact of the demonetisation in the frontier State.
He agreed there is a serious shortage of money especially the small denomination notes. However, in next 10-15 days the situation will improve as more money will be made available in all denominations, the Additional Secretary assured.
Kutty urged the State Government to spread awareness on demonetisation especially in remote areas of the State. Words must reach every individual to deposit their old notes by December 30 or they may exchange old notes at designated offices of the RBI by March 31, 2017.
As people have now started to visit banks in large numbers, Kutty advised the State Government to use the opportunity to open more banks and ATMs in the State, especially at sub-divisional level to bring more people under banking coverage.
To spread awareness on demonetisation, the Chief Minister informed the visiting Central officer that all Deputy Commissioners will be instructed to relay a 15-minute Radio talk in local dialects for three-four days, besides organising outreach programmes.
To cover more people under banking services, Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin suggested that ASHA workers in remote villages can be deputed to work as banking correspondents by opening customer service points (CSPs). Fair price shops, shopkeepers, Gaon Burahs and Political Interpreters can be encouraged to work as banking correspondents, Commissioner (Finance) Ashish Kundra suggested.