Amid fresh demonetisation rumours, small firms avoiding Rs 2000 notes

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Amid rumours about demonetisation of Rs 2,000 bank notes, some companies have advised their cashiers to not accept the high-value pink notes from the customers.

They have also directed their accountants to deposit cash balances of Rs 2,000 notes in banks.

An internal advisory by a Karnataka-based logistics firm on the possible demonetisation has been making the rounds on social media but its authenticity could not be ascertained immediately. Multiple attempts to reach the firm on the telephone number given on the advisory went in vain.

While the market has been abuzz with imminent ban of the Rs 2,000 denomination it got fresh fuel after former Economic Affairs Secretary SC Garg wrote in a policy prescription that people may have hoarded black money in the new currency.

He also said that high-value notes can be demonetised without causing any disruption.

"A good chunk of Rs 2,000 notes are actually not in circulation, having been hoarded. Rs 2,000 note, therefore, is not presently working as a currency of transaction," Garg had said.

"A simple method, depositing these notes in the bank accounts (no counter replacement), can be used in managing the process," the former bureaucrat said in a 72-page policy suggestion.

As per his estimate, the Rs 2,000 bank notes account for about one-third of currency notes in circulation in value terms.

The Rs 2,000 notes were circulated by RBI in November, 2016 after demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

--IANS

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