Indelible ink to mark customers exchanging Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes

Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, in a press meet on Tuesday, said indelible ink would be used at banks to identify people who exchange notes.

Later, in the evening, an official said a small mark of indelible ink would be put on the right hand finger of those exchanging Rs 500 and Rs 1000 rupee notes for new ones from Wednesday to prevent crowding at banks by repeat exchangers.

“Ideally, the ink mark should have been put on the left hand as is done when a person casts his vote. But with by-elections due in some States, an ink mark for exchange or withdrawal of currency note on the left hand will lead to unnecessary difficulties. So it has been decided that the ink mark would be put on the right hand,” he said.

After a review meeting taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night to discuss the situation, the government has set-up a high-powered group under the Cabinet Secretary to monitor supply of essential goods in the wake of disruption of trade due to shortage of currency notes.

Besides, a task force has been constituted to monitor circulation of fake currency notes in vulnerable areas and to keep a watch on black money being deposited in the system.

Now opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, NCP and the JD(U), are gearing to take on the government on the issue of demonetisation in the winter session of Parliament that begins on Wednesday.

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