Demonetisation Reality Bites Hard on Payday For The Poor, Mr Modi

On 1 December,2016, the first payday after demonetisation, Archana – a domestic help living in Noida – returned home without a rupee in hand.

For hundreds of thousands like her across India, who depend on salary paid in cash on the first of every month, PM Modi’s demonetisation move is an ill-planned exercise that hurts real bad.

Archana works as a cook in over four households. She approached her first place of work in Noida sector 19 at around 7 am.

Her employer Eshwar was caught unawares when she asked for a salary advance, apart from her regular pay.

“Can I get two months salary in advance, in cash?” she asked hesitantly.

Eshwar had no answer. It was a logistical problem. His salary had been credited to his account the previous evening but he had no time to stand in long queues outside ATMs.

“I write you a cheque, but I certainly cannot pay you in cash,” he replied.

I have to pay my landlord in cash too. I won’t be able to pay today. I can transfer the money in your bank account directly but cash can’t be given today.

Eshwar

So, Archana came out of the first house without being able to secure her monthly salary.

Payday or May Day?

The rest three households she works at too were unable to pay her the salary they owed her on payday.

Archana has to take care of her young daughter and manage her day at work too. She has been struggling to make ends meet and had been expecting her monthly pay on the first of the month, much like the rest of us. But because of the demonetisation drive, none of her employers have been able to pay her salary in cash.

With no bank account or cash in hand, many like Archana are facing the brunt of the cash crunch on the first payday after the government’s note ban decision.

Video Editors: Mohd Irshad Alam & Prashant Bharadwaj

Camera: Anthony Rozario & Rishika Chatterjee