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Bank staff strike against merger hits services
New Delhi/Kolkata/Chennai, Dec 26 (IANS) Banking services at branches of state-run banks across the country were hit on Wednesday following the strike by unions against the proposed merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.
Bank staff are protesting the proposed amalgamation on the ground of its likely impact in the form of loss of jobs and closure of branches. The one-day strike was also to press for other demands including wage revision.
The strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) – an umbrella organisation of all 9 unions including the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), the All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE) and the National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW).
Wednesday’s strike follows the one last Friday by the officers’ union of public sector banks (PSBs) to protest against the merger and to demand the immediate settlement of wage negotiations.
AIBEA General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam told IANS from Chennai that the strike call by the unions, which have a combined membership of 10 lakhs, received “very enthusiastic” response.
“Reports are reaching us from all the states that the strike has been successful.. Clearing operations were affected because branches are closed and cheques cannot be sent for clearance. Cash transactions have been similarly affected,” he said.
“Government treasury operations, import and export bill negotiations, money market operations, etc. have also been affected. About 30 lakhs of cheques worth about Rs 23 lakh crore will be held up without clearance due to the strike.”
Venkatachalam said the protest was joined by unions of 12 private sector lenders like Federal Bank, Dhanalakshmi Bank, Karur Vaishya Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank, Karnataka, Bank, Nainital Bank and Kotak Mahindra, among others.
He said that with the last conciliation meeting called by Additional Chief Labour Commissioner not yielding any assurance on the merger, the unions plan to meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to “explore convincing the government to stop the merger, or else we will be forced to step up although our aim is not to disrupt banking operations.”
The government approved this first three-bank merger in September.
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh-affiliated NOBW Vice President Ashwini Rana said in a statement: “We also feel strongly that the main issue confronting banks, which is increasing bad loans, will get relegated by bringing proposals of consolidation and merger to the fore.”
“The nationwide strike in public sector banks against the merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank, is completely successful at least in Kolkata and Delhi as far as I know,” said All India Dena Bank Employees Coordination Committee Deputy General Secretary Amitava Ghosh.
The strike also affected banking services in Kolkata.
“Private and foreign banks’ branches’across the city remained shut. Most of the ATM shutters are down, though ATMs located at the hospitals were kept out of the strike. Clearing activities remained closed,” United F”rum of Bank Unions’ West Bengal Convener Siddhartha Khan told IANS.
“We also wish to draw attention to the humongous NPAs (non-performing assets or bad loans) and to press forward the demand of publication of list of skilful and wilful defaulters,” All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) Assistant General Secretary Sanjay Das said, adding that a writ petition has already been filed at Delhi High Court challenging the legality of the merger decision.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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