It may be too late to talk about demonetization. Both the supporters and critics of this move seem to have presented their closing arguments and moved to other topics..
But it seems it is never too late for demonetization itself to strike people. I am not referring to the seizure of old currency that has been taking place every now and then. After all, the hoarders of the demonetized notes deserve to be punished.
But one can't help sympathizing with Ms Meenakshi, a poor lady from Hassan, Karnataka, with a disability to hear or speak who realized that the sum of Rs.1.39 lakh that she had saved up and stashed had no value. The tragedy is that she learned of the impact of demonetization too late (only in the third week of April), more than 3 months after the deadline prescribed by the government for exchanging or depositing the demonetized notes and more than 15 days after the grace period that ended on March 31, 2017.
Considering that Meenakshi has been earning Rs.1500 per month as a domestic help, in addition to the disability pension of Rs.1200 per month, so kindly doled out by the government, we can imagine how much sacrifice .she should have endured over the years to save such a substantial sum from her poor earnings, which should have been still less in the past.
After demonetization had been announced, Meenakshi's family members asked her whether she had any cash with her. But the poor woman seems to have refrained from talking about her savings, fearing that her precious savings would be taken away from her. It has been taken away from her in a totally unexpected way.
The government officials have pleaded their inability to help her since the rules won't permit any help. I don't know whether any philanthropists have come forward to help her.
Needless to say, the government is not responsible for Meenakshi's plight. It appears that fate has played a cruel game on her. We can only pray for happiness.
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