08th November, 2016 a date to remember for the world in two major historic events One in the Super Power America: Donald Trump elected as the President of the United States and second in India shocking and economy turning announcement of Demonetization of currency notes was declared by the Modi led Government of India. At the stroke of midnight all 500 and 1,000 rupee notes which attained approximately 86% of the currency in circulation ceased to become legal tender. It was an attempt or a “shock doctrine” tactic to dismantle the cash-centric black market, to make India digital savvy, and an attempt to bring maximum Indians in the formal taxable economic grid. This situation worsened plights of around 90% vendors who did not have any means other than accepting cash as well as 86% of the workers paid in cash and did not possess any bank accounts in spite of the Government’s attempt to open Jan Dhan Accounts. Suddenly India’s economy came to a halt. It affected all the sections of the society: • Businesses shut down • Inability of the farmers to buy seeds • Employers had no way to pay their employees • No medical facilities for patients with old currency • Fishermen couldn’t sell their catch • Daily wage earners affected majorly • Hawkers/small vendors could not sell anything This article is an attempt to capture the plight of the workers across the country due to the surgical strike of the Government.
