India struggles as millions swarm banks to swap currency

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TIME TO LAUNDER YOUR DIRTY MONEY..INDIA

India will use indelible ink to mark the hands of currency swappers who will be turning over 500 and 1,000 rupee notes — a move the government is making to curb corruption before state elections.

Indian bank customers wait to deposit 500 and 1,000
 Indian currency notes at a bank in the city of Amritsar

NEW DELHI — India’s government said Tuesday it will use ink to mark the fingers of people swapping scrapped currency notes at banks as authorities struggle to deal with the bedlam caused by the sudden demonetizing of the country’s highest-denomination bills.

A week ago, India announced that it was withdrawing 500 and 1,000 rupee notes as legal tender to fight corruption and tax evasion. However, people are allowed a one-time swap of 4,000 rupees ($59) at any bank in exchange for smaller notes to meet immediate needs. Overwhelmed banks have been unable to ensure that people don’t line up more than once, since IDs such as drivers’ licenses and passports are not linked to bank or tax accounts.

Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said there have been reports of “unscrupulous people” who have organized groups of innocent people and sent them from bank to bank to swap old notes.

Chaos prevailed across major cities as people lined up outside cash dispensing machines late on Tuesday following the announcement, while the S&P BSE Sensex tumbled as much as 6.1 per cent before trading 2.6 per cent lower at 9:54 a.m. in Mumbai.

India also uses indelible ink to mark the fingers of voters after they cast their ballots in elections.

Larger amounts of demonetized bills can be deposited in saving accounts before the end of the year. However, people depositing big amounts are likely to find tax officials looking into their finances. There are also limits to the amount that can be withdrawn from accounts and ATMs.

Hundreds of millions of Indians do not have bank accounts and use only cash. Many small businesses accept only cash.

There are about 16.5 billion of 500 rupee currency notes and 6.7 billion of 1,000 rupee bank bills in circulation, according to central bank Deputy Governor R. Gandhi, amounting to 15 trillion rupees or $224 billion.

The government says the demonetizing of big currency notes is expected to bring billions of dollars into the economy and tax base, long hobbled by corruption and money laundering.

“On one hand, we are number one in economic growth and on the other we are ranked 100 in global corruption rankings,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an unscheduled address to the nation. “Despite various steps, we have improved only to 76.”

Banks have been swamped throughout the week as people have thronged to exchange currency notes or withdraw their weekly limit of 2,500 ($37) from ATMs. The government says it’s trying to rush the printing of new 500 and 2,000 rupee bank notes but hasn’t been able to keep up with demand. Banks and ATMs run out of cash well before the end of work hours, leaving millions of people stranded without money.

The timing of the move is critical. It comes just before key state elections. Money for votes is a common practice, as is handing out gifts, according to N. Bhaskara Rao, chairman of the New Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies, which published a report in 2014 on the topic.

Businesses routinely use cash to avoid paying taxes. Raids on corrupt politicians and businesses regularly uncover large stashes of money.

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With files from Bloomberg