In Noida, photocopy shops cash in on low currency

As hundreds of people lined up outside banks and post offices to get hold of the new currencies after demonetization of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, it were the photocopy shop owners who made the most of it.

As hundreds of people lined up outside banks and post offices to get hold of the new currencies after demonetization of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, it were the photocopy shop owners who made the most of it.

Many photocopier owners at sector 66, 62, 55, 18 and Khoda were seen overcharging customers for a copy of an identity card, driving licence or adhaar card. People have to submit copies of these documents while depositing or exchanging old notes at banks. (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

True to the saying ‘make hay while the sun shines’, shop owners in Noida were charging Rs 5 for a photocopy that earlier used to cost Rs 2 or Rs 1.

Many photocopier owners at sector 66, 62, 55, 18 and Khoda were seen overcharging customers for a copy of an identity card, driving licence or adhaar card. People have to submit copies of these documents while depositing or exchanging old notes at banks.

Since there are limited photocopy shops near banks, customers had no option but to pay up.

“Why are they charging Rs 5 for a Rs 1 photocopy? Modi has clearly said the demonetization process is a tribute to the country and we all are with him on this. It leaves us disappointed to see how some people can make money out of anything,” said Sumit Mitra, a resident of Arun Vihar.

Zeeshan Khan, a software engineer at sector 62, was also angry. “It seems that businessmen, bureaucrats and politicians are least affected by the demonetization. It is we the working class people who are suffering while others are making profits out of it,” he said .

Photocopy owners defended the move to hike rates. “We were left with little change. So we decided to increase the rate from Rs 2 to Rs 5 because it is easier return the change. Usually, we see 20-30 customers but in the last six hours, we have dealt with more than 200 customers,” said Siddhartha, a photostat shop owner at Khora in Noida.