DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 15 (MExN): Post-demonetisation, a sum of Rs 3044 crores of specified bank notes has been deposited in the currency chests of Nagaland. Against this, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sent new currency notes of various denominations amounting to almost Rs 4483 crores in the currency chests of the State.
This was disclosed by Nagaland Home Commissioner, Abhishek Singh while reviewing the monestisation of Bank branches in the State of Nagaland post-demonetisation at the 18th meeting of the State Level Security Committee (SLSC) for the state of Nagaland on November 14 with the RBI. While there have been no reports of shortage of cash in the State, the Home Commissioner requested all the nationalised and private banks to encourage cashless transaction and e-payments.
As far as possible all Government payments including GPF withdrawals, medical reimbursement and TA/DA bills must be released into the bank accounts of the concerned government servants, he said. The Home Commissioner also asked banks to ensure operationalisation of temporary ATMs at Kisama for Hornbill Festival. Further banks were requested to ensure sufficient liquidity in the ATMs and bank branches in view of the enhanced needs of tourists during Hornbill Festival. Banks should also install additional PoS machines and encourage digital payments during the Hornbill Festival, he said.
The Home Commissioner also directed all the banks to submit the details of pending security bills of all branches not covered under Special destination scheme.
Further a committee was constituted under Special Secretary (Home) to review the security requirements of the 177 Bank branches in the State and to determine which branches would need security fee waiver. Normally branches in commercial locations are expected to meet the security costs themselves. Home Commissioner also directed BSNL to see the functionality of hotline communications in 4 (four) chest banks immediately.
K.P Raghuvanshi, IPS (retd), Security Advisor, RBI elaborated that the security arrangements should be in place in all banks. He also stated that the hotline facilities from the chest banks and police stations should be installed without any delay. He also offered that RBI can conduct training of Police officials in detecting Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs). It was decided that the same will be conducted in the month of January, 2018.
Participants in the meeting included K P Raghuvanshi, IPS (retd), Security Advisor, RBI, Mumbai, B K Mishra, Regional Director for North-Eastern States, RBI Guwahati, police officers, representatives of CRPF, BSNL and representatives of all banks in Nagaland.
