Beggar’s savings in 3 bucketfuls

Bank took seven hours to count Rs4,296 in coins

KOLKATA: For the staff of the small branch of Central Bank of India in central Kolkata, the entire Monday was dedicated to counting the life-long savings of Lakshmi Devi, a 50-year-old beggar who has spent her life on the streets of north Kolkata.

The initiative by the local police to open a savings account for her at first put the bank staff in a quandary. Lakshmi’s savings, amounting to a total of Rs4,296, came to the bank in the form of three bucketfuls of coins of different denominations.

The coins were of smaller denominations like 10 paise, 20 paise or 25 paise, thereby increasing their number. The bank had to dedicate almost all its staff to counting the coins so that a savings bank account opened.

The staff was more than willing to cooperate. The counting started immediately after the branch opened at 10am and ended a few minutes before the bank’s closing hour at 5pm. After determining Lakshmi’s amount, the branch also opened an account for her and gave her the passbook.

The deputy commissioner (north) Pallab Kanti Ghosh who took the initiative, said: “The residents of the locality where she used to stay informed us about her savings in the coin format. We also thought that this huge collection of coins can be a matter of life threat for her.”

A relaxed Lakshmi Devi later said, “I am happy that my burden has been relieved.”
r_sumanta@dnaindia.net