The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that it has taken all possible steps to create awareness among the public in general, and banks in particular, about the features of genuine Indian currency notes so that they can easily distinguish them from the forged.

“We are trying to create awareness through various fora such as electronic media, print media, outreach programmes, participation in exhibitions and conducting training programmes for banks and the general public,” stated D Datta, assistant general manager, RBI, Mumbai in a letter. “We also distribute outline pamphlets and posters wherein the security features of genuine notes are outlined and explained. Our arrangements with BEST authorities for display of CDs containing genuine features of currency notes on TVs fitted in moving buses is also a part of the initiative. We have instructed the banks to process all the notes received by them in note sorting machines before taking them into custody and re-issuing them to the public so that forged notes, if any, are not put back into circulation,” Datta stated in the letter. Advocate Sushil Mancharkar, on behalf of the city lawyers, had taken up the issue with the RBI.

Datta said that as per rules, banks are bound to report it to the police whenever a forged note is detected. “Such reporting may, of course, create some sort of discomfort to the bankers as well as to the people from whom forged notes are received. It is therefore, necessary that members of the public in general are aware of the security features of genuine bank notes,” he said.

... contd.