No takers: coin of god

Pic:  Main Uddin Chisti

TT: Sale of silver coins minted by the Debottar Trust Board in Cooch Behar has dropped during the ongoing Ras Utsav, a fallout of demonetisation.

The Ras Utsav started on November 14.

The ongoing cash crunch among devotees has had an effect on the footfall to the Madan Mohan Temple complex in Cooch Behar. Even though the Debottar Trust Board is accepting old notes, the sale of the coins has dipped.

"Demonetisation has hit us too. Though we are ready to accept the old notes, even then the coins are not being sold," said Samir Snehanobis, a staff of the Debottar Trust Board that looks after the temple and all other places of worship that belonged to the erstwhile kings of Cooch Behar.

The silver coin, which has embossed on it an idol of Lord Krishna, was launched in 2013.

"In the past, about 15 to 20 coins were sold daily during the fortnight-long Ras Utsav. This year we have hardly sold any. Since November 14, we have sold about four coins," Snehanobis said.

Sephalirani Roy, a homemaker in Cooch Behar, said the coins would have found buyers if they were made of gold. "Many people would have rushed to buy them with their old notes," she said.