Rajasthan: Pakistan Hindu migrants with no legal IDs starve due to demonetisation

The demonetisation initiative which was announced on 8 November took the world by storm as Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were termed illegal tender. Even though the government issued new Rs 500 notes and Rs 2000 notes, the nation was forced into cash crunch.

Migrants from Pakistan who have been living in India for a long time are literally starving as they don't have legal IDs and documents to get notes exchanged in banks. 85 people living in slums are in a pathetic condition as they have no way of exchanging notes. The displaced Hindu families, are settled in Jethbai Marg, near Jaisalmer district for over a year and a half. Since then, they have not been granted citizenship by the Indian Government. Evidently, they don't have bank accounts under the Jan Dhan Scheme either.

While others in the district are trying hard to get their notes exchanged through banks, these migrants are finding themselves at sea. Even though they have money to buy food, they are forced to starve as the amount is in the form of the demonetised notes. These daily labourers do not see any ray of hope.