Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision of allowing a withdrawal of 2.5 lakh for the purpose of a wedding has helped many, but why is the rule only limited to that of a wedding?
This thought struck a 71 year old, Amarnath Agarwal when he lost his wife last week and had to pay for the rituals following his wife’s death. Apart from mourning for his wife’s death, Amarnath, who is a Defence Research and Development (DRDO) scientist was also worried as to how he would meet the expenses of the religious rituals which cost nearly 2.5 lakh. The government has set the limit only for weddings and there is no exception for the people who are suffering from a death in the family. Amarnath Agarwal told a daily, “I just want our politicians to realise that just like a marriage ceremony, even rituals following death are a serious business and have to be given special attention.” He further added saying, “While marriage expenses can be scaled down, expenses in case of death cannot be.”
Amarnath’s wife Draupadi, suffered from chronic renal failure and was cremated after Amarnath’s neighbours helped him to make the payments for the cremation and other expenses.When Agarwal visited Kanjurmarg branch of Canara Bank with an application to withdraw Rs. 2.5 lakhs and a letter from the doctor that certified his wife’s death, the branch manager said he was helpless unless the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued necessary guidelines. Agarwal said, “The branch manager is a dear friend. But he says he is helpless till the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issues necessary guidelines.”
But Agarwal managed to withdraw Rs. 48,000 from two of his accounts with each account having a withdrawal limit of Rs. 24,000. Agarwal said, “The bank staffers were kind enough to understand my plight and give me the money. There are many who have been unable to withdraw even the allowed limit because some banks don’t have the money.”
There are many people like Amarnath Agarwal who are facing the same difficulties and we hope, that issues like these, reach out to the Modi government and they consider the basic requirements of people in our country.
