Hours before wedding, MP bride makes a dash to bank in make-up

Her wedding was just hours away but instead of being excited, 23-year-old Arti Prajapati in MP’s Barwani district was frantic. Her disabled and widowed mother had saved Rs 1.74 lakh for her marriage but it was all in Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes – both of which were withdrawn by the government two weeks ago.

Her wedding was just hours away but instead of being excited, 23-year-old Arti Prajapati in MP’s Barwani district was frantic. Her disabled and widowed mother had saved Rs 1.74 lakh for her marriage but it was all in Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes – both of which were withdrawn by the government two weeks ago.

Bank officials hand over the money to Arti Prajapati, who reached the bank on Sunday in bridal make-up. (HT photo)

The family had thought they could go to the bank to deposit the cash and withdraw new currency on Sunday but unlike the previous weekend, all banks were closed this time around. Without the cash, they had no money to pay for any of the arrangements or gifts.

With just hours to go for the ceremony, the 23-year-old and other family members rushed to the nearest bank in Pansemal on Monday.

With Arti in her bridal make-up and the groom’s side – the baraat – almost at their house, they managed to get the entire sum.

She deposited the money in her brother’s account as she didn’t have one of her own, and managed to withdraw the money by furnishing due documents, with help from the bank officials.

Arti said her family faced difficulties but she supported the prime minister’s demonetisation move.

But others weren’t as lucky.

Ramcharan Jat -- whose marriage is on December 1 – has not been allowed by all banks in Barwani on Tuesday to withdraw Rs 2 lakh he had deposited earlier, because of new rules by the Reserve Bank of India. The banks have advised him to pay by cheque or online transfer to concerned parties.

On Monday, the RBI imposed stiffer conditions, saying Rs 2.5 lakh can be withdrawn for marriages only from the credit balance as on 8 November, the day demonetisation was announced.

Jat had deposited the money in his account days after the high-value banknotes were banned.