Work suffers at banks as staff put on election duty

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 28

After bearing the brunt post the Centre’s demonetisation move, bankers are struggling again as most of them have been put on poll duties along with the staff from other government departments.

According to managers in nationalised banks, barring one or two persons, the entire staff has been put on election duties in the field.

“We have got about 18 staff members, but 16 of them have been put on election duties due to which the work of the entire branch is suffering. We will have to manage the entire work of the branch with just 2 to 3 staff members. In such a scenario, the public is bound to suffer. Customer services in banks will be hit next week because of election duties,” said a manager at a nationalised bank near Bharat Nagar Chowk.

Another senior official working at a bank in Miller Ganj area said: “There will be three consecutive holidays in banks next Friday, Saturday and Sunday (February 3, 4 and 5) and the public dealings will suffer.”

“The banks have already faced the wrath of the public because of demonetisation in the last two-three months. If they will not be given proper services, they will again get an opportunity to defame banks. But the fact remains that most of the staff in banks are on election duties in other offices, field, villages etc. as directed by the Election Office and the staff can do little in this,” the officer said.

Commenting on the staff put on election duties, one of the Returning Officers said there was nothing to crib about. “The bank staff and public should understand that this is also part of their job. Elections have to be conducted smoothly in the entire state and for this, the staff in government departments has to be deputed for election duties. Everyone has to and must cooperate and accommodate,” the returning officer said.