RBI directive against using garlands of currency fall on deaf ears

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been making efforts to keep currency notes clean. In view of this the apex bank has issued directives to the banks not to staple notes.

Alpana Killawala, chief general manager of the public relations division of RBI said, "Whatever we do, we do through the banks. One of the challenges that we had was to do away with stapled notes, a habit that often results in the note getting torn. After issuing a directive to banks, they have done away with the stapling of bundles of currency notes."

Earlier RBI had issued directive that people should discourage using garlands made of currency notes- a common feature in north Indian weddings which seems to be falling on deaf ears.

Alpana Killawala told IANS on phone from Mumbai, "We issued a directive last year that currency notes should not be used in making garlands, which defaces the notes and shortens their life."

She said, "It's part of our continuing efforts of clean notes policy. But no one seems to be paying heed as most weddings, especially in north India, keep using such garlands. We can't take any action against the public. We can only sensitize them".

According to Alok Aggarwal, a sales executive in Delhi for people this directive does not mean anything. He said, "The tradition of making the bridegroom wear the garland of currency notes is a symbol of shagun (good luck).

"In most cases, this garland is then carefully stacked away. So where is the question of misusing the notes?" he asked.

Due to increasing demand for such garlands they are not only used in weddings but also during religious festivities, graduation ceremonies and anniversaries, they are easily available in the market.

"Currency note garlands are always in demand, especially during the wedding season. Some want garlands made of two-rupee notes, some want of 100-rupee notes," says Mohan Lal, a shopkeeper in central Delhi.

Meanwhile RBI is making efforts to inculcate "good habits" among the people - so as to encourage good quality notes.

Killawala said, "We have also asked them to tell people not to give stapled notes when they deposit such notes to the bank. Further, we made a movie in 2006 on the same subject which was telecast on Doordarshan."

The RBI even organized camps to educate people on how to handle currency notes.

"Our latest initiative is making a short film on the dos and don'ts of handling bank notes. People have to be discouraged from scribbling on notes and folding them. The movie will be ready for telecasting in another couple of months," she said.

"The trend of note garlands is mainly north India centric. Therefore, we will have to devise a program specifically for that area," she added.