In a major relief to people still facing cash crunch due to the demonetization decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has announced that Rs 2,000 can now be withdrawn from consumer retail outlets of Big Bazaar, using debit card from November 24.
News agency ANI has confirmed the decision. The withdrawal of Rs 2,000 from Big Bazaar outlets would reduce the burden on people, who are currently lining up outside huge queues of banks and ATM counters.
It said the facility is now available at 258 Big Bazaar and fbb stores in over 115 cities and towns across the country.
As per report, the State Bank of India has tied up with the stores of Big Bazaar and set up mini-ATMs to help customers withdraw cash while they shop.
The move will come into effect November 24 (Thursday).
Rs 2000 can now be withdrawn from Big Bazaar using debit card starting from this Thursday (November 24) #DeMonetisation
— ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2016
“We are trying hard to ease any difficulties faced by customers due to the demonetization of some currency notes and support the government’s initiative in meeting its objective,” Kishore Biyani, Chairman, Future Retail, said.
In the past week, government also instructed petrol pumps to allow customers to withdraw cash using their debit cards. Due to the sudden demonetization decision of PM Modi, banks and ATM counters have been lined up with scores of people.
Now one can withdraw 2000rs from bigbazaar using your debit card from this Thursday onwards pic.twitter.com/UH3BjLZbra
— Kishore Biyani (@kishore_biyani) November 22, 2016
The queues have been escalating in rural and remote parts of the nation, where ATMs and banks are far less as compared to the proportion of people residing in the region.
The decision to allow customers to withdraw Rs 2000 from Big Bazaar could effectively reduce the rush outside banks and ATM counters. The recalibration of ATMs is expected to be completed by end of the month.
Read: Kejriwal Has A Problem With Withdrawing Money At Big Bazaar
Several ATMs which have yet not been reconfigured to eject the new notes, have turned dry. Due to no cash in the ATM counters, combined with escalating queues outside banks, there is an evident cash crunch in some parts of the nation.