The decision of Central Government to demonetize Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes has definitely created problems for the citizens of India and Seetaram from Siya village is not an exception to this. However, what is different in the case of Seetaram is that he is a blind beggar who has saved Rs. 98,000 in high value notes over the period of 20 years and now he is in a confused state as to what will happen to his life savings.
Seetaram’s matter came into light when he went to the gram panchayat office and told the janpad panchayat officers,
“Saheb, this is my life’s saving. Now I am told that this is all scrap.”
Ejaj Patel, Siya gram panchayat secretary, told TOI that this amount had been earned by Seetaram in 20 years while begging in Siya village. He further added,
“Since he could not keep the money safe, Seetaram had given portions of the money to his acquaintances for safe keeping. After the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes were demonetized, his friends returned the cash claiming that they cannot shoulder the responsibility.”
Ejaj also said that Seetaram with his wife came to Siya village around 20 years back from Rajasthan. He was not able to find any job due to his blindness so he started begging and lived in a shanti.
The officers of gram panchayat are not thinking of helping Seetaram in the exchange of his notes into new currency or notes of lower denomination. In fact, this is what Ejaj told,
“We are planning to get in touch with the bank officials to seek a remedy. We may even help him open a bank account and deposit the money in it.”
We really hope that Seetaram’s life’s saving doesn’t get useless, as this is his only hope in old age!
