Chai at ATM Queues: Darjeeling Tackles Demonetisation Cheerfully

There are two types of people outside ATMs in Darjeeling: some waiting to withdraw money and others serving them tea

Residents of Darjeeling line up outside ATMs to withdraw money, but not without a little help from complete strangers. (Photo: Darjeeling Chronicles)

It is close to midnight in Mirik, and Bishan Rai and his friends, who run the popular Facebook page “Mirik ko Sero Fero,” are busy discussing the logistics for the next morning; their goal is to help the people who line up in the banks to deposit or withdraw money.

Like every other place in India, the Darjeeling hills too saw a scramble to ATMs and banks following the demonetisation announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ours being a mountainous region, ‘Digital India’ is yet to arrive here, thus almost 99% of the transactions are dependent on cash. As it gets more difficult to find smaller denomination notes, lining up to withdraw cash, which started off as a minor inconvenience, has turned into a major headache over the past week. People are starting to complain, and tempers are finally starting to flare up.

But this is where the narrative between the people of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and the rest of India diverges.

While elsewhere, flaring tempers would perhaps lead to fights or even riots, in Darjeeling, it’s the opposite. The youth feel the growing tension, and are looking for ways to help subside it. That is where people like Bishan and his friends come in. After about three hours of discussion, filled with friendly banter and jeers, they agree to serve tea and refreshments to those lined up. A few volunteer to help fill up forms for those who cannot (elderly and illiterate), and a few others volunteer to help with the cleanup afterwards.

Volunteers in Darjeeling serve tea to people standing in lines outside ATMs. (Photo: Darjeeling Chronicles)

Despite the increasing frustration over the non-availability of cash, people are highly supportive of the demonetisation initiative. Everyone we talked to said they supported the move, and a few suggested how it could have been done better.

A small businessman in Kalimpong asserts, “Yes, we are having a problem, but we are very happy that the Narendra Modi government has taken this step to curb black money. However, I feel that other major parties too need to help. They are just blaming the Modi government; instead they should find ways to assist the government.”

Vivek Pradhan from Bijanbari agrees. Living in the suburbs of Darjeeling, he sees this move as a historic measure, “Among other thing, this move will help conduct fair elections in India. One of the positives I see from this move is that, it’s an opportunity for common people like us to serve our nation. The onus of doing something for our nation should not be confined to the soldiers; common people have to bear equal responsibility.”

‘Serving the Nation’ is a theme which finds wide resonance in Darjeeling region, which is home to the largest number of retired soldiers in India. Mr Manoj K Gurung, Manager at the Darjeeling branch of HDFC bank explains, “The most important thing we did was, we gave first priority to tourists who were stuck here in Darjeeling, exchanging their notes. For tourists who were HDFC bank customers, giving them Rs 10,000 of withdrawal, tourists who did not have any cheques, we allowed them to withdraw money on cash slips on their request… so this is what HDFC bank Darjeeling has been doing, and we hope to do more in the coming days also… the bank staff are very taxed, very tired… we are going home at 11-11:30 in the night, coming back in the morning at 8:30. Practically, we are working about 15 hours a day, but for the sake of the nation, I think, we will do it.”

HDFC stayed open till midnight on Sunday, allowing people to withdraw money and make deposits. This is the level of commitment and dedication that people across the Darjeeling region have continued to display.

The same sense of responsibility is felt by almost everyone. Mr Bikas Tamang, an elderly man from Kurseong says, “we the common people completely support this move… PM Modi has asked for 50 days time, if he wants longer, we will support him… we want to completely eradicate black money and our PM has our full backing and support.”

Change is always painful, but at times it becomes necessary. Perhaps it would help, if the rest of our country learned from Darjeeling and its people, and supported each other, instead of whining and complaining.

When times are difficult you can choose to either भाग लो (participate) or भाग लो (run away), I am glad that whenever our nation has needed us, the people in Darjeeling have always chosen to participate, be it for defending our nation from the enemies outside, or from the enemies within.

(Upendra M Pradhan is the editor at large for The Darjeeling Chronicle and writes the column “Voice of Darjeeling” for www.darjeelingtimes.com)