BHOPAL: Starved of cash, 15 farmers of a village in Gwalior deposited 45 quintals of paddy as their children’s school fees on Saturday. The school management sold the crop at a mandi and got a cheque of Rs 58,500.
Bhitarwar region of Gwalior is known as the rice bowl of Madhya Pradesh, and paddy is the main crop of the kharif season. Villages here have run out of cash, like in most rural parts of MP. TOI had earlier reported how demonetisation has revived barter economy in villages as a means for bare survival.
About a month ago, people in Gadhota village, about 60 km from Gwalior, got a gentle reminder from MLB Primary School about the pending fees. They said they couldn’t pay because of ‘notebandi’ and sought time till their crops were sold in mandis. Soon, they realised that they would not get any cash from the mandis either as they were paid in cheques.
Madanlal Jatav, one of the farmers, said: "My son Sonu studies in KG. We are not getting cash from the mandis after selling our crop. Even if I get a cheque after selling my produce, there is a long procedure to deposit it in the bank, and then I have to join long queues to get my money."
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