After calling it a bold move a day before, Ratan Tata on Thursday said demonetisation was causing great hardship to the common man, particularly for medical emergencies, major surgical interventions and the procurement of medication at many hospitals in smaller towns across the country.
“Hardship is also being experienced by the poorer people due to the shortage of cash to meet the daily household needs for food,” Tata said in a statement on Twitter.
On Wednesday, the interim Chairman of Tata Sons, hailed the Centre’s move to demonetise ₹500/1,000 notes as a bold act. “Demonetisation of old currency notes by the Modi government is a bold act that will wipe out black money and corruption. It deserves our support,” he had said in a tweet.
Tata, however, said on Thursday that while the Government is doing its best to increase the availability of new currency notes, it may be worthwhile to consider special relief measures similar to those employed at times of national calamities to serve the poorer segment of the population for their daily needs and for enabling emergency medical treatment in smaller hospitals.
“Such emergency measures will be greatly appreciated by the distressed segment of the population as it would exhibit that the Government cares and has not forgotten the needs of the common man at this moment of transition during the implementation of such an important demonetization program,” Tata said