Shillong, October 20: There are no takers for coins in Meghalaya.
Small change have almost become collectors’ items not only here in Meghalaya, but also in some other states though they are very much legal tender and as such valid for all transactions.
Shopkeepers deny to take the small change and say ‘yeh nahi chalta hai’, while if you give them matchboxes or toffees instead, they will readily accept them.
The situation, which reminds one of the days of barter trade before paper money and metal coins came into vogue, has come to such a pass that the State Bank of India has been forced to step in issuing an appeal to the people to use small denomination coins freely.
“There is a strange and strong aversion of the people to use small denomination coins. Maybe, they find it difficult to handle the coins,” an SBI official said.
–PTI