By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: South connection Mohan M, who has been serving as Chairman of the Odisha Gramya Bank (OGB) in Bhubaneswar since February 2021, seems playing with the future of Bank officials and staffs, those who from Odisha.
Prior to his appointment to this post, Mohan M was serving in the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) in Sri Lanka as the country head but since, Mohan ventured into Odisha, he never missing a single stone unturned to harass Odia officers and staffs working with Bank, sources said on Monday.
The Association of Odisha Gramya Bank Officers has been protesting against the whimsical attitude of the OGB Chairman Mohan M and General Manager. Associaion alleged that the Chairman is knowingly violating guidelines of NABARD, RBI and Government of India and State Government.
Association President Asit Kumar Khandai and General Secretary Satya Brata Nanda alleged that with Chairman Mohan no paying heads to demands of the Association, they are facing a lot of hardship.
Arbitrary action of Chairman Mohan M has irked Association of Odisha Gramya Bank Officers’ with the Bankers Body, held an agitation here on Monday pressing their demands seeking to be fulfilled in time bound manner.
Association of Odisha Gramya Bank Officers said, On 27th September 2021, Association (AOGBO) protested against the arbitrary actions of the present Chairman of OGB and called for an indefinite strike from 11th October 2021.
Conciliation meeting was held on 08th October 2021 after labour commissioner intervene into the matter and one minutes of conciliation meeting has been signed by the Chairman of OGB & the representatives of AOGBO & subsequently with labour commissioner and also scheduled strike fixed on 07th February 2022 has been rescheduled to 14th February 2022 due to request by the Management & favorable promises made by the GM, HRD on behalf of the Chairman, the Association said.
“But, So far, no major development as per conciliation meeting minutes & recent promises, is yet done by the Chairman. Hence, with no other option, Association of OGB Officers’ went for one-day peaceful strike on 14th February 2022 with their twelve genuine demands and around 800 offices throughout the branch, participated in the strike call and more than 300 officers (members of association) have gathered in front of Head Office & raised their voice & express strong denigration, in this strike before OGB Head Office, Gandamunda, Bhubaneswar, against injustice & the autocrat Management controlled by the present Chairman,” AOGBO President Asit Khandai and General Secretary Satyabrata Nanda said in a statement.
All 550 branches are closed in the strike in protest of 12 genuine demand. President Asit Kumar Khandai, General Secretary Satyabrata Nanda, Working President Sagar Guru, Deputy General Secretary Manabhanjan Misra, retired association president Manoj Mohanty & Other Office Bearers were among those present during the day-long strike here.
Demands of AOGBO
1. Implementation of all the points in the minutes that was signed on 08-10-2021 and subsequent additional demands raised vide our letter dated 14-10-2021 and during the discussion dated 29- 10-2021, with respect to the Strike call dated 20-09-2021, in true spirit.
2. Demand to implement, all the allowances and benefits as per the bipartite settlement for both officers and employees at par with Sponsor Bank, immediately.
3. All the staff (officers and employees) loans should be at par with that of sponsor Bank with respect to interest rate and limit.
4. Establishment of permanent Staff training centre with dedicated training facility to all the cadres of the staffs for continuous skill up-gradation.
5. Scale 4 officers from OGB should be posted as General Managers in Odisha Gramya Bank. No officers from sponsor Bank should be deputed further in OGB to perform the duties of Scale 4 and 5 officers as per the advice of the NABARD.
6. Regularisation of all the daily wage workers, working in our Bank.
7. Direct recruitment of the Office assistants and officers should be done urgently, for the smooth function of the Bank, as per the extant manpower policy of RRBs.
8. Immediate rollout of digital payment services such as UPI and Mobile Banking for better customer service.
9. Completion of the Promotion process of the batch of all the officers and employees eligible as on 01.04.2021, immediately, before March 2022. Promotion of all the eligible staffs including officers and employee before 31st July of every year as per the extant guidelines of the NABARD.
10. Deployment of Security guard at branches and ATMs of Odisha Gramya Bank as per the RBI and NABARD guidelines for the safety and security of staff, resources and customers of the Bank.
11. Supply of adequate printing stationaries and other essential instruments for the smooth
functioning of the branches and providing essential service to rural people.
12. In the recent Transfer policy, some unfair labour policy has been incorporated, which reflects the autocratic mind-set of the present chairman. This should be modified as per the industry practice based on the NABARD guidelines.
