Demonetisation has set off reverse migration: Subhashini Ali

CPI(M) leader and AIDWA president Subhashini Ali today said the Centre's demonetisation exercise has triggered a "reverse migration" of people from cities to villages as they have lost jobs.
She said the women in country are "enraged" by the withdrawal of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes by government, as it has left them in the lurch.
"Women are angry and facing problems due to demonetisation move of the Centre. The government has taken away people's money by taking this step," the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) chief said while addressing a press conference here.
She said the people are being "prevented" by government from withdrawing their own money from banks.

Stating that recall of old notes has hit people across the sections hard, especially poor women, Ali said, "the owners offering small jobs are finding it difficult to pay salaries to their employees. Women of poor section are the worst sufferers as their husbands are engaged in small jobs."
She said the trend of reverse migration is set in post demonetisation.

"Reverse migration is being witnessed as thousands of people have lost their jobs and they are now returning to their towns and villages from big cities," she said, adding these people are now concerned with how to sustain their families and feed their children.

Ali said farmers have also been suffering as the buyers of their crops and vegetables have disappeared from markets due to demonetisation-induced cash crunch.
"Vegetables are rotting and farmers are forced to dump their produce. In such situation, it would be hard for them to arrange money for sowing the next crop," she added.
Reacting to the protest here last week at the venue of a programme which was supposed to be attended by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Ali said, "it is sad that such an incident took place on the Human Rights Day. This is the violation of people's rights. This is not only an insult of a chief minister but also of entire state he is representing.