Demanding the implementation of salary revision, allowances and other benefits, officers of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank staging a protest in Dharwad.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
In a bid to highlight their demands pertaining to the implementation of salary revision, allowances and other benefits and seeking their fulfilment, officers of Karnataka Vikas Grameena (KVG) Bank recently staged a two-day protest in front of the bank’s head office in Dharwad.
Over 300 officers of the bank took part in the two-day agitation during which a “reverse walk” procession symbolising what they termed regressive policies of withdrawing the existing allowances was taken out.
The protest march which began from Jubilee Circle converted into a demonstration on reaching the head office of the bank.
Blood donation
On the first day, the protestors celebrated the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by voluntarily donating blood. In all, 77 officers donated blood to mark the occasion.
On the second day, the officers sat on a dharna in front of the head office to highlight their demands and demanded early implementation of the bipartite settlement.
The protesting officers said that although the bipartite settlement was approved nine months ago, the bank’s administration has delayed its implementation.
As many as four other Regional Rural Banks in other States have already extended the benefits, they pointed out.
They demanded rectification of discrepancies in NPS contribution and implementation of increase in additional responsibility allowance, special leave benefits for women employees, while listing out their other demands.
Addressing the protestors, president of the association Lingaraj Roddannavar said that although the bank has achieved significant growth, earning praise from NABARD and the Central government, it has failed in extending the rightful benefits to its employees.
General secretary Sagar Shaha said that despite not getting benefits, the officers have been taking additional responsibilities beyond their duties. However, they are not being given their rightful perks and the management has been apathetic towards their demands, he added.
The protestors subsequently submitted a memorandum to bank chairman Shrikant Bhandiwad and urged him to consider their lawful demands to which the chairman responded saying that the bank is studying their demands.
Published – January 26, 2025 07:05 pm IST