Under the aegis of India’s Presidency of the G20 and in the run-up to the 3rd Finance MinistersandCentralBankGovernors(FMCBG) meetingand3rd FinanceandCentral Bank Deputies (FCBD) meeting, scheduled from July 14-18, 2023 in Gandhinagar, Jan Bhagidari programs were organized by RBI Ahmedabad for creating wider awareness and involvement among the members of the public.

The distribution of coins and exchange of soiled and mutilated notesbythe banks has been an area of focusfor Reserve Bank of India to ensure convenient access and last mile availability of currency-related services for the members of the public. Coin and NoteExchangeMelaswere,therefore, organizedunderJanBhagidarievents towards achieving the twin objectives of improving customer service along with increasing awareness of the upcoming G20 events.

Towards this, the following events were organized by Currency Chest-holding banks under the jurisdiction of RBIAhmedabad:

(a) Coin and Note Exchange Melas were organized in Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar by ten banks (one bank on each working day) from July01, 2023 onwards till July 13,

2023.

(b) Coin and Note exchange melas were organised by all the 159 CCs inAhmedabad issue circle on July 10, 2023.

(c) One mobile van of ICICI Bank was stationed nearAkshardhamTemple on July 11,

2023 to distribute coins to members of the public and also exchange soiled and mutilated notes received from them.

The banks have reported overwhelming response from the public during the events. The ten banks that had organized the Melas in Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar distributed 5.26 lakh coins and exchanged 32.81 thousand pieces of soiled and mutilated notes for a total value ₹10.17 lakh. The mobile van stationed near Akshardham Temple servedmorethan300customersbydistributing42.50thousandcoinsandexchanging soiled and mutilated notes worth ₹13.65 thousand and also distributed G20 kits to each of them.

Acollage of pictures from the Jan Bhagidari events is enclosed.