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Bank strike continues

Srinagar Nov 17. The indefinite strike by the Ellaquai Dehati Bank (EDB) employees, asking for more workforce in the state, continued for the 12th day today, disrupting normal functioning of 80 banks in the valley.

A spokesman of the EDB employees union said that the employees went on indefinite strike after the management failed to do justice.

He said there are 80 branches working in the Kashmir valley, mostly in far-flung and remote areas without proper staff and security arrangements.

After the migration of Kashmiri Pandit staff from the valley in early 1990, there are just 32 clerks and 75 officers left to run the 80 branches affecting the normal functioning of most of branches. He said in some branches an officer had to do the work of a clerk also while in others a clerk has to work as an officer and peon.

``We have time and again requested the management to recruit more staff in the interest of the customers," he said, adding despite assurance by Union Finance Minister nothing has been done. ``We admit that the bank is suffering losses for the past 15 years and recruitment of new clerks and officers will further affect it, but at the same time we should not forget that better service will improve the business of the bank,'' he said.

Keeping in view the financial position of the bank, ``we have suggested to the management to promote the educated Class IV employees to next grade to avoid new recruitment of clerks. In fact the Class IV in some branches are working as cashiers and clerk without any extra benefit'', he said.

He said most branches are run by a single person who keeps both the keys of the chest which is of great risk to bank and him (employee). He said there are 110 clerk and 50 officer posts vacant in the valley.

He appealed to the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to take up the matter with the Union Finance Ministry so that unemployed educated youths of the valley are adjusted on these posts. He said about 18 branches of the bank in the valley were looted at gun point during the past 10 years because of no security.

-- UNI

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