Tender exact change, govt tells shopkeepers in Meghalaya

Shillong, May 24 (PTI) Authorities in Meghalaya today issued a strict warning to shopkeepers to tender exact coins and changes instead of toffees and paper tokens to customers, officials said. The notice came in the wake of several complaints that shopkeepers and traders, especially in the capital city, are devising an ingenious method to cope with shortage of coins. It has been observed that shopkeepers are offering chocolates in lieu of the balance money/exchange that they have to return to customers, East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal said. Violation of the instruction shall invite stern action which may go up to the extend of imposing penalties on the shops under relevant provision of the laws, he said. Goyal said the shopkeepers are responsible to tender exact changes to customers as the Reserve Bank of India has clarified that there is no shortage of coins.