PANAJI
Endorsing this, the president of Goa Government Employees Association John Nazareth, stated that approximately 60,000 government servants including the 3000-4000 ‘work charge’ employees got their pay-cheque on time.
“The ‘work-charge’ employees who are attached to the PWD and other government departments and who were always paid in cash all these years, received their payments by ECS system this time which baffled them a bit and caused inconvenience to some as those who did not have a bank account. These employees were recently advised to open a salary account so that their payments could be transferred in it. But Goa being a small state, the overall scenario here was better than most other states. Goa also had better distribution system,” said Nazareth.
“Our association had put forth a demand to the chief minister of Goa a fortnight ago asking the government to issue their November salaries in cash to which the CM has assured that things will fall in place by the time. However, cash crunch still prevails and those who are habitual of buying groceries on credit did face shortage of cash as the ATMs ran out of money and withdrawal from the banks was limited too. But this was a common problem faced by all and we were not exception,” said Nazareth.
“As the government employees get their salaries on the last working day of the month, the pay bills received before the 15th of November have all been cleared by the state government and the consolidated salaries have been deposited at the State Bank of India’s treasury branch on the 18th June road in Panaji,” disclosed a high-level officer from the accounts department in South Goa, adding, “We are following the Reserve Bank of India guidelines, however the rules and conditions for withdrawal of cash are same for all.”
But there did seem to be some discrimination/favouritism while disbursing the cash at some of the banks.
The tourists and foreigners were the most who suffered on ‘pay day’ as salaried persons were given priority while disbursing the cash. According to George Benson, a 73-year-old British national, he was lucky to be first in the queue on the NRI counter at State Bank of India’s main branch in Panaji as he could manage to get Rs 4000 (approx 80-82 pounds).
“The lady at the counter informed that she can entertain only five of us today,” said Benson who was then asked to visit Thomas Cook to try and exchange the currency.
Benson who arrived in Goa on November 6 for a month-long holiday, had exchanged pounds into Indian currency the very next day and was cashless soon after the November 8 announcement came.
