The Quint’s ATM Reality Check: PM Modi, Our Lives Stay Disrupted

The Quint carried out a reality check across 12 states, 26 cities and 80 ATMs.

Forty days after demonetisation, The Quint carried out a detailed ATM reality check across 12 states. (Photo: Rhythum Seth/ The Quint)

Nearly 40 days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1000 currency notes, lives of millions of Indians are still disrupted.

The Quint decided to carry out a detailed on-ground reality check of the state of ATMs across 12 states, 26 cities and 80 ATMs.

All videos were recorded from 80 ATM centres between 13-15 December. Across the country, major inconvenience due to cash availability at ATMs is apparent, even after 40 days.

With most ATMs only dispensing Rs 2,000 currency notes, petty cash transactions have dropped drastically, as a result of which small traders, daily wage workers, farmers and civilians are severely affected.

Residents of Munger, Bihar face cash crunch due to defunct ATMs.

Traders in Nanded, Maharashtra severely affected by demonetisation. 

Milk producers of Mehsana, Gujarat say business has been affected due to demonetisation.

A defunct ATM in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

Limited cash forces a bank to shut down an ATM in Sanand, Gujarat.

Signs like these are common even in the tourist town of Amritsar, Punjab.

Kokrajhar, Assam bears the brunt of unavailability of cash as well.

What is surprising, however, is that majority of people, despite going through major hurdles to get money that is rightfully theirs, still support PM Modi on his demonetisation decision.