Gaya temple offers free 'pind daan' to offset demonetisation; people extend gratitude

A temple in Bihar's Gaya district is offering free 'pind daan' services to the people to offset their demonetisation woes.

"We're providing full support to the people as there is shortage of currency notes. We are doing pind daan without taking any money," said a local pandit.

The public has expressed its gratitude and relief for the same.

"Yes, there is some problem as we don't have enough cash, but the temple authorities have been very cooperative," said a devotee.

The government has announced several measures to ease the process of exchanging now defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and also facilitate the withdrawal of money following its demonetisation announcement on November 8.

About 1.30 lakh branch post offices and district central cooperative banks are being pumped with additional new currency notes. Temples and other places of worship are being asked to deposit small denomination currencies/coins offered by devotees at the nearby banks and a close watch is being kept on Jan Dhan accounts and illegal cash deposits.

To ease pressure on banks, a task force has been set up to look after shifting and storing of old notes, said Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das.

The Centre has directed banks across the country to procure the indelible ink from government departments to prevent any illegal activity during the exchange of currency notes.

The new measure is expected to come into effect from Wednesday.