The New Currency Of India

Shop worth Rs 99, you give a 100 rupees note to the cashier and instead of
the one rupee change he will give you an Eclairs. This is the latest trend
and value of Indian Rupee.Is it harming the economy or just boosting the
sales of few chocolate companies?.

It is believed that during his reign of five years (1540 -1545), Sher Shah
Suri, the powerful Afghan emperor of north India, introduced the first
rupee. Then, a rupee was valued to 40 copper pieces.

Over the years, the value of the Indian Rupee (INR) has changed
tremendously, so much so that today a rupee is valued to two toffees (Melody
/ Éclairs/ Chlor Mint).

You shop worth Rs 99/- at a store, you give a 100 rupees note to the cashier
and instead of the one rupee change he will give you an Éclairs. And the
most intriguing thing is that this trend does not work vice versa. Once
while shopping at a stationery shop, I noticed a small girl about 10 years
arguing with the cashier. Curious to know, I approached them and was
surprised to hear what had happened. The girl had bought a pencil and some
drawing sheets. Her billed amount was Rs 21/- and she was carrying only Rs
20/- in her pocket. She searched into her pocket and brought out a toffee
and gave it to the cashier saying, “Uncle, I don’t have one rupee change, so
keep this toffee instead.” Her innocent gesture said it all. Although the
cashier did not accept the toffee, he realised the value of a rupee.

It is not just in one shop or city, but this trend has been observed in most
of the big stores and almost every place where cash transactions take place,
across India. Recently at a toll tax point, the man at the counter returned
to me three toffees instead of the change amount.

The question is – is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) short of coins to
supply or is this just another trick of the trade people to increase their
sales? Whatever be the reason, the matter is serious. We generally overlook
such things, but believe me, this is leading us all to another world of
corruption. The only way out is to – say no. The next time anyone offers you
toffees or chocolates, ask them for the change amount.

Most of us are annoyed by this trickery of the stores but for that matter,
are we doing anything to stop this nuisance. As a matter of fact, we are
supporting it by our negligence. Many a times we accept the toffees when we
don’t actually eat these. Isn’t that a waste of that one rupee?

A rupee is worth much more than just a toffee. If you don’t realise it, then
just notice a hungry beggar on the street who has to beg for a single rupee
all day, sometimes even for days together so he can buy food for himself. He
can tell you the exact value of a rupee. Ask a lady when her heart beat
rises with the rising prices of grocery and domestic LPG. Ask a common man
when his budget is disturbed by the rising fuel prices and taxes.
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Ask a serviceman who has to work 12-16 hours a day just to make ends meet.
Ask a small child who fills up his piggy bank every day with a rupee. They
will tell you what a rupee is worth to them.

We all want to change the present scenario of our nation, but don’t know how
to do it. Here we have a chance by saving a rupee. Instead of wasting that
coin on a toffee, why not save it for a good cause. If each one of us save
or donate one rupee, imagine what it will amount to. India being the second
most populated country in the world, we can save billions of rupees each
day. Remember, “Drop by drop would make a lake”.

If you can’t stop it, at least don’t encourage it… or just be prepared for
the day when World Bank will announce toffee as the new currency of India.
Imagine buying a house worth 25 lakh toffees, luxury car for eight lakh
toffees, television for 20,000 toffees and so on.

Sounds funny but not impossible. Think about it!