AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 113 DATED 03.08.2010

AIBOC issued its circular No. 113 on the Moaist attacks on officers and the threat to lives of officers working in sensitive branches. We are reproducing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO:113                                              DATE: 03.08.2010

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

MOAIST ASTTACKS ON OFFICERS – THREAT TO LIVES OF OFFICERS - PROBLEMS OF OFFICERS WORKING IN SENSITIVE BRANCHES

One of the issues that came up for discussion in the Executive Committee of All India Bank Officers’ Confederation held on 30^th and 31^st July 2010 at Mumbai was the problems of Offices working in Maoist affected areas.  The members expressed their serious concern and suggested several relief measures and for taking up the issue with the Indian Banks’ Association for necessary action.  We have to-day sent a communication on the subject to the Chairman, IBA, Mumbai.  A copy of the same is enclosed.

All our affiliates/members are requested to await further developments in this regard.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(G.D. NADAF)

GENERAL SECRETARY

No./1452/265/10                                                             03.08.2010

To,

The Chairman,

The Indian Banks’ Association,

World Trade Centre,

MUMBAI – 400 020.

Dear Sir,

MAOIST ATTACKS ON BANK OFFICERS - THREAT TO SECURITY OF LIFE OF OFFICERS WORKING IN BANKS

One of the issues that came up for discussion in the meeting of the Executive Committee of All India Bank Officers’ Confederation held at Mumbai on 30^th and 31^st of July 2010, was on the attack on Bank Officers in different parts of the country by Maoists.  The Bank Officers are discharging their duties in the most difficult and interior terrain of the country which includes several backward states, extending all their support and co-operation for the people who are living below the poverty line.  They have been able to serve these people despite the hardships that they have been encountering due to their initiative and conviction to serve the people of the country, especially the poor and the underprivileged.

The recent developments in the States where the Maoists are active, the Bank Officials are becoming soft targets and they have been facing serious threat to their lives.  It is not only causing anxiety to themselves but to the members of their families forcing them to shift their residence to more comfortable and secured places.  However, this is only a temporary measure to take care of the immediate situation.  But with the increasing number of attacks and the threat to lives of the Bank Officers there is a need to take a close look at their problems apart from the assured security to them and the branches in which they are working.  The members of the Committee while deliberating on the various types of the problems that they have been encountering, came out with the under noted suggestions for the consideration of the Indian Banks’ Association.

Reduction in the Working Hours:

While round the clock security is the need of the hour, the Managements of the Banks also should examine the reduction of the working hours so that there is no need for the Officers to be present in the early hours as well as late hours of the day. This will provide them the satisfaction of having a sense of security during the busy hours since the people around are available and they are not exposed to loneliness.

Dual Leased Accommodation:

In view of the threat to lives of the people, the officers are compelled to shift their families to nearby places where they have adequate safety and security for their spouse, children and parents.  The Offices are out of pocket to meet the additional lease rentals and hence need to be protected from this additional expenditure.  The Bank Managements should therefore provide dual leased accommodation facility to the Officers working in the Maoist infested areas.

Insurance Cover:

In view of frequent attacks and the threat to lives of the Officers there is a need to take a special Insurance Cover at a higher value for all Officers, serving at maoist affected areas.

Govt. sponsored loan schemes – Threat to the Branch Managers:

The Government of India comes out with a series of schemes to provide credit facilities to the weaker/poorer sections of the society. However, the job of identifying the beneficiary for the purpose of loan has been done by the local Government Department and the list is simply forwarded to the bank branch for sanction of loan.  The majority of the beneficiaries, identified for the purpose may not fit in the scheme for sanction of loan.  But, the beneficiaries bring all types of pressure on the Bank Officials and Brach Manager, including threat to their life.  The IBA should take up the issue with the Ministry of Finance and ensure that the Branch Officials should be involved in identifying the beneficiaries and only loanable proposals be sent to the Bank branches, to avoid pressure on the Branch Officials.

Cash Remittance – Security

Yet another area of vulnerability as far as the banks are concerned is the movement of cash from one place to another by way of Cash Remittance without strictly observing the security norms. The Banks should strictly ensure the full security and safety to the Cash Remittance by providing the prescribed security personnel and maintaining the procedure in the strict manner to avoid the attack on the officials carrying the remittance etc. We understand that, at maoist affected areas, RBI has refused to send their Potdars to accompany cash remittances and has instructed the Banks to send their officials to receive cash remittance from RBI. This is violation of the cash remittance policy. The IBA should take up the matter with the Government as well as the RBI for ensuring the necessary arrangements in this regard and issue strict instructions not to undertake movement of cash without these infrastructures being made available to the bank staff. We also understand that, RBI has taken an insurance policy on their Potdars. It is needless to reiterate our demand that, all officers in maoist affected area be insured adequately.

Shifting of Branches:

The Bank Managements should take liberal view as regards the sensitive areas and allow the shifting of the branches from such areas to nearby safer areas. The IBA should come out with appropriate guidelines without further delay. The branch premises be secured by the paramilitary forces round the clock.

Recruitment and Posting of Locals:

One of the disadvantages that the Officers are facing is the lack of full knowledge about the local environment and the feeling of being an outsider in the midst of the various activities that are taken up by the Maoists workers.  The Locals posted here would be in a better position to keep a close watch on the local developments, may not be that much vulnerable as the outsiders are.  The language and culture problems are yet another issue which may result in misunderstanding of the officers’ by the local people leading to unwarranted friction, violence etc., The IBA should advise the banks concerned to see that the Local people are posted in such sensitive areas rather than exposing the outsiders in those sensitive areas where the branches of commercial Banks care situated.  It is advisable to give weightage to locals in recruitment of staff.

The Executive Committee has unanimously decided that the issues highlighted above should be sorted out with the IBA and necessary relief should be obtained in the interest and safety of our Officers working in these branches.

We therefore request you to kindly look into these aspects and take necessary steps without further delay.  If further details are required you may fix up an exclusive meeting on the subject where we could provide further inputs in the matter.

Please treat the matter as urgent.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(G.D. NADAF)

GENERAL SECRETARY