Odisha seeks small denomination notes for rural areas

The Odisha government on Wednesday demanded more small denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 100 to ease the troubles of people in rural areas of the state.

"The situation in urban areas has improved to some extent. However, the problem still persists in rural areas. We have asked the central team and RBI officials to provide more small currency notes to rural areas," Finance Department Special Secretary Ashok Meena told reporters after a review meeting on the demonetisation situation with a central team.

The government also demanded transaction facilities for farmers through cooperative banks.

The central team assured state officials that they would sort out the problems being faced by the State government.

"We discussed various strategies to sort out the problems of people. We would submit a report to the Centre," said Suresh Vashishth, Joint Secretary in the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.

The team would visit several parts of the state to assess the demonetisation situation and prepare a report.

Sources said RBI is providing Rs 100 notes in 2,106 ATMs in the state of which 1,784 ATMs have been recalibrated to dispense new denominations.

--IANS

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