Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation policy is delicately poised in the balance of public opinion, with support for it not seeming to be as high as he claims on his app, but also not nonexistent as claimed by the Opposition. In a wide-ranging survey conducted by The New Indian Express across the South and Odisha in the fourth week of November, critics of his November 8 rollout were evenly matched by supporters of it.
While 41.6 per cent of respondents said Modi’s summary move to withdraw Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes from the market was badly planned, 40 per cent said it was planned well.
The survey was conducted in urban and rural locations in six states — Odisha, Andhra, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala — eliciting responses from a total of 2,791 respondents from five sectors of the economy most impacted by demonetisation: the salaried class, unorganised sector, small traders, retired persons and students. One of the key findings of the survey is that 42.5 per cent of the respondents said they have endured ‘some inconvenience’ in the past three weeks. On either side of this middle ground, almost 28 per cent said they faced ‘no inconvenience at all’, matched by 29.5 per cent who said they were put to ‘a lot of inconvenience’.
Similarly, the middle class is felt to be the hardest hit by the cash crunch. While 48 per cent of the self-empathising salaried class said the middle class has borne the brunt of it, even respondents from the unorganised sector (42 per cent) felt so. Support for Modi’s decision seemed to be strongest in Karnataka, where 47.6 per cent said they have faced no inconvenience at all in the past three weeks, and weakest in Telangana, where 44 per cent said they have been put to a lot of difficulty.
BALL IN THE PEOPLE'S COURT
This is what the masses say.
Has the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes caused may inconvenience to you and your family?
The answers range from ‘some hiccups’ to ‘no problem at all’. 48% of Karnataka respondents had no gripes at all. (Read in detail)
Who has been affected most by the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes?
Discontent not limited to the middle class. 65% of small traders in Kerala say middle class is most hit. (Read in detail)
Do you think the government has planned the demonetisation move well?
There is equal response to the government's move. 73% of unorganised workers in Telengana believe that demonetisation was planned badly. (Read in detail)
Will it help eradicate black money in our country?
Positive note? It is informal. 54.5% of the salaried class agree that demonetisation will eradicate black money. (Read in detail)
Will it help solve corruption in our country?
Will graft find a way around the move? 43% of respondents in Kerala were sceptical about the cash ban. (Read in detail)
Will it help solve terrorism in our country?
Salaried class feels most hopeful. 62% of Karnataka respondents believe note ban will curb terrorism in the country. (Read in detail)