Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
The Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) is holding state-wide rallies against the attack on public sector banks (PSBs), cooperative sector and gramin (rural) banks in Kerala. Two rallies, one from Kasargod and the other from Thiruvananthapuram, were flagged off on May 3 and will culminate in Ernakulam on May 13 with a ‘People’s Banking Protection Rally’ and massive public meeting. The 11-day-long vehicle jathas will touch upon all 14 districts to appraise the bankers and public of the detrimental effects on the sector owing to the policies of the government.
“We have prepared pamphlets and booklets explaining the impacts of the policies being implemented now. We are inviting the public to participate in the resistance against the adverse policies destabilising the banks,” said N Suresh, former national vice president of BEFI.
The reduction of 27 PSBs to 12 in the last six years and the subsequent closure of 6,000 branches is causing hardships for the general public. The delays in filling up around 3 lakh vacancies in the PSBs is coming in the way of providing good service to customers.