Private security guards are finding it difficult to get their cash exchanged, as their duty timings overlap with banking hours. The problem is particularly critical for those on the morning shift from 8 am to 8 pm.
Banks attend to customers from 10 am to 4 pm. Hence, the guards have had to take leaves. But in most cases, even a day off has not been enough for them to exchange cash from the bank. Furthermore, taking a leave is extremely difficult for them.
Mahavir Singh, a security officer in Arihant Harmony, a residential society in Indirapuram, had gone to Canara Bank in Ahinsa Khand 2 on November 13 to exchange old notes, but returned empty-handed, as the bank had run out of cash before his turn came. He again tried his luck after two days and stood in queue for more than three hours, but had to come back without the cash yet again.
Singh rues, "I really can't afford to take so many leaves, but my cash is running out. What's left at home is barely enough for a couple of days more."
Ratan Das, another security guard posted in the area, has a similar tale to tell. He had, however, managed to exchange Rs 4,000 a few days back, but the cash soon ran out. He is unable to take a day off again, so he sent his wife to the bank. "But she is not fit enough to be able to bear the rush," says Das, looking worried.
Arun Kumar Ojha, Das' security supervisor, said he was trying to accommodate leaves for the guards, but he, too, had limitations.
Guards who had already deposited their paycheques into their accounts were unable to withdraw cash due to long queues, while those who hadn't were in an equally dire state.
