MUMBAI: Breaking his silence over the demonetisation issue, RBI Governor Urjit Patel today said the central bank is monitoring the situation on a daily basis and taking all necessary actions to “ease the genuine pain of citizens” with a clear intent to normalise the things as early as possible.
Patel also said the RBI has announced an incremental CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) of 100 per cent “because of the large increase in deposits of banks on account of the return of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes” and the decision would be reviewed immediately once the Government issues adequate quantum of MSS (Market Stablisation Scheme) bonds which they have promised to do.
In an exclusive interview, Patel said the situation arising out of the decision to withdraw Rs 500/1,000 notes is being monitored on a daily basis and the printing presses have started to rebalance the production of new notes towards Rs 100 and Rs 500 bills.
He also urged the people to start using cash substitutes like debit cards and digital wallets, saying it will make transactions cheaper and easier and in the long term, it will help India “leapfrog into a less cash-use economy at par with more developed nations.”
“We are also urging banks to make a big push with PoS (Point of Sale) machines with traders so that debit card use becomes more prevalent,” he said. (AGENCIES)