Mobile postal ATMs come as a boon to tribals

The 33 habitations on Bargur hill do not have banks or full-fledged post office. The Department of Posts came forward to cater to them. On Friday, a mobile ATM of the department exchanged demonetised currencies worth Rs 5 lakh, benefiting 255 persons of Thamaraikarai and Bargur habitations, said assistant superintendent of posts R Pattabiraman. If the people in the plains have a tough time, the status of the those living in the hills of Bargur would be toughest as they have to travel nearly 40 km to Anthiyur for the nearest bank or post office. The tribal people have to lose their day’s wages to get their demonetised currency notes exchanged. 

“Even then we are not sure if we would have got money as we hear news that people stand for hours at banks and return with disappointment as the banks are running short of money. Now dispensing money in our village is a boon for us. We want more such camps to be conducted here benefiting our habitations,” the tribal villagers said. 

The postal department is planning to conduct such mobile ATM camps at other habitations in the hill next week. 

Similar efforts were taken by the department in Coimbatore where the mobile ATM went to Chadivayal and nearby villages. At Salem, the mobile ATM exchanged cash for tribal people in the remote habitations of Yercaud.