NEW DELHI: Let’s be real. Demonetisation has changed life-as-we-know-it. While over 70 people have died in demonetisation-related deaths since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on November 8 that 500 and 1000 rupee notes will cease to be legal tender, the privileged lot of this country have other concerns.

As credit cards and PayTM take centre stage, there is still the niggling hassle of having to change/deposit existing notes, or withdrawing new notes. While a majority of India has no choice but to queue up for days on end, the privileged few in the country have a few options on hand:

1. Go cashless. This is what PM Modi said we should strive for. All hail PayTM!

2. Call up your private banker/ relationship manager. He’ll ensure you skip any and all queues and get your banking done.

And where 1 and 2 fail, there’s a handy new option that’s appeared: BookMyChotu.

The service offers a “chotu” for Rs. 90 per hour, to stand in line for you. This is India’s exploitation economy working at its finest.

Sample the ad. “Are you short of cash ? Need a Helper to stand in Queue of the bank / atm till the time your turn comes?? www.bookmychotu.com. First on demand helper booking service Hire Hourly Helpers @INR 90 per hr. Available in DELHI NCR ****Please note our boys will not go inside bank , they will just stand in the queue for our customers as we understand that there can be some emergency and our helpers can help you in the same by saving your valuable time . Also chotu is just a name , all our helpers are above 18yrs of age.”





The service is widely gaining popularity on social media. And while we have no figures as to how many people are using it, it is definitely being talked about.







Well, what do you think? Ingenious or ridiculous? Necessary or exploitative? Tell us in the comments below.

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SHIV NAIDU