Kozhikode: The Confederation of Pensioners' Associations has expressed grave concern over the indefinite strike by officers and employees of the State Bank of India (SBI) in the country since Monday.

The strike is causing serious dislocation of economic activities, affecting millions of people who conduct their transactions through the bank. Tens of thousands of pensioners and family pensioners who draw their monthly pension through the SBI will find themselves in serious crisis unless alternative arrangements are made for disbursement of pension urgently, especially in view of the forthcoming Vishu festival, the association's convener, P.K. Gopalakrishnan, said here on Thursday.

The member-associations include All-India Military Pensioners' Association, All-Kerala Bank Retirees' Federation, Central Government Pensioners' Association, Kerala Pradesh Ex-servicemen Congress (I), Kerala State Ex-Service League, National Ex-Servicemen Coordination Committee, NITC Pensioners' Forum and Railway Pensioners' Sangh.

Mr. Gopalakrishnan said the authorities concerned and elected representatives should intervene in the dispute and settle the strike at the earliest. The staff unions of the SBI should also take into account the difficulties faced by the public and pensioners on humanitarian grounds. Majority of the pensioners solely depended on their limited monthly pension for their livelihood, he said.

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