::::: MINISTRY OF FINANCE INITIATIVES 11TH BI-PARTITE PROCESS ::::: ::::: HAPPY PONGAL :::::

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

CIRCULAR/GS/2014/18



CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2014: 018                                              Date: 21.06.2014

 
TO ALL OFFICERS                                                               PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,
We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2014/18 dated 15.06.2014 received from our Federation for your information.
With best regards                                                                      
           
Yours sincerely
sd/- (N SAKETHRAM)
GENERAL SECRETARY

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CIRCULAR/GS/2014/18                                                                             15th July 2014
TO ALL OFFICERS:
Dear Friends,
AN UNTHOUGHTFUL INCIDENCE AND APPROACH OF MANAGEMENT

The critical phase in which our Bank is passing, it is rather pertinent that management should assiduously peruse the policies which can create a healthy atmosphere. However, to our great distress the situation is reaching to a level where the patience of the officers is wearing out and they are living in a situation of uncertainanty, fear and tension. As a result one of our officer colleagues has gone to the extreme step of committing suicide due to the coercive approach of management. We are reproducing below the communication to the management for your information.
“It is a matter of profound grief and the shockful incidence that took place at Regional Office Sambalpur, where Mr. B.B.Pradhan, Chief Manager has preferred to take such a extreme step of committing suicide which has been confirmed by autopsy report. Despite restraint, one is compelled to record that the whole matter seems to be dubious and questionable. You will appreciate that there is a limit to which the officers can be pressurized and burdened with heavy load of work. If the management does not realize and understand the ground realities, the officers would not be in a position to continue to hold the unbearable work load, pressure, tension of fulfilling targets and fear of unthoughtful disciplinary actions. This embarrassing episode is a matter of anger in the minds of officer community in our Bank and may outburst in any way. It is primary duty of the management that there should be endeavour in bridging gap between law and life.

In the instant case, the member was physically handicapped to the tune of 60% as certified by Government Medical Board and was also getting handicap allowance. In spite of this fact, the member was not retained in the same station on promotion. He was transferred to Sambalpur violating Government guidelines despite his repeated requests and representation. To our utter surprise, the member's request for reversion was also not considered by the management.

At the cost of repetition, we reiterate that the feeling of fear psychosis is increasing in the minds of officer community, who are working under tremendous pressure. And it will be utmost wiser step to understand the present scenario in our Bank, rather than shy away from them or pretending that they do not exist.

Incidentally, you must be aware of the awful incidence in Punjab National Bank, where the officer in scale IV committed suicide due to despotic approach of higher management of that Bank. Though the Bank management has suspended two senior top executives, this buck does not stop here and save the fate of bereaved family due to untimely and unnatural death of an officer. AIBOC, the apex body of our organization has taken a serious note of such unparalleled incidences.

We are afraid that if the management will not evaluate human asset in proper perspective there is fear of repeating such tragic episodes. Is management waiting to have more victims to open their eyes?  We as a organization cannot allow such a situation to prevail. We demand to resist from harassment, humiliation of officers and fix up the accountability for the unnatural death of late Mr. B.B.Pradhan”


Further, recently there was a similar case of suicide in Punjab National Bank, for which AIBOC has taken serious note. We are reproducing the circular issued by AIBOC for your information.

The incident of suicide committed by Com. Ajay Sehgal, Chief Manager, Sector 20, Panchkula of Punjab National Bank has touched the raw nerve of the rank and file in all banks. The suicide note left behind naming the Circle Head & Field General Manager, PNB, Chandigarh, responsible for this suicide found by the Police authority, has raised serious questions about the philosophy and human resource policies pursued by most Public Sector Banks (PSBs). The issue was highlighted by the local as well as national print media relentlessly and later on by the Television channels.

One will wonder why the entire officers’ class in Punjab National Bank as also in other PSBs were so agitated and anguished by this singular event. The answer lies in the methodology adopted by top functionaries of most PSBs to achieve business targets. The new emerging trend in most PSBs is the belief of top management that the only way of increasing business and meeting targets is by instilling fear amongst junior officers and field functionaries.

Officers are working under tremendous pressure due to acute shortage of staff, lack of proper infrastructure and poor service condition. While Bank’s business has grown many fold & number of branches doubled over the last decade, commensurate recruitment and retention did not take place not only to take care of this additional business but also to man the new branches, which increased stress level across the workforce. AIBOC has been taking up these issues through various fora.

In the evening of 2nd July 2014 the news of suicide of Com. Sehgal reached the entire country. In the morning of 3rd July 2014 the suicide note of Com. Ajay Sehgal was found and FIR was lodged by Police. Leaders of AIPNBOA immediately took up with CMD of PNB through SMS & letter on the same day demanding immediate action.

In absence of any immediate response from the Management, AIPNBOA took up the issue with AIBOC and on 4th July, 2014, chalked out an action programme.  We extended solidarity & called upon all affiliates to join the action programme of AIPNBOA through our SMS / Circular No.47 dated 04.07.2014. 
 
On 5th July, 2014, noon, the Top Management of PNB discussed the entire issue with the leadership of AIPNBOA and expressed sorrow over the unfortunate death of the officer and called for maintaining restrain in this hour of crisis.

On the night of 8th July 2014, PNB Management took further action and suspended both Circle Head & FGM, Chandigarh pending enquiry as demanded by AIPNBOA”
Friends, let's prey to almighty for the eternal peace to the departed souls and to grant their  family members the strength to bear this irreparable loss. It is time to take a oath against vindictive butchery  approach of management and this is also the time to arise and awake and we should not stop till our goal is reached. That will be the true homage to the departed souls.
Yours Sincerely,


(S.B.Rode)
General Secretary
                                                                       OFFICERS’ UNITY—ZINDABAD
                                                                       A I B OC            --ZINDABAD
                                                                       A I C B O F         --ZINDABAD

WHEN DICTATORSHIP IS A FACT, REVOLUTION BECOMES A RIGHT!!!

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