The Centre’s proposal to merge nationalised banks would widen the gap between the banking industry and the customers, and it would pave the way for privatisation of banks, said S. Nagarajan, general secretary of All India Bank Officials Association (AIBOA), on Sunday.
Addressing presspersons, Mr. Nagarajan referred to a move by the Union Ministry of Finance on ‘grouping of nationalised banks’ for toning up the administration of public sector banks. He said that the country’s banking industry, by virtue of its large network and services, was popular in the international arena.
The strong roots of the banking system across the country prevented the entry of private banks. But, the Centre’s move to merge the banks would destabilise the banking sector and pave the way for privatisation, he said.
Strikes
To a question on the future course of action against the move, he replied that decision in this regard would be taken at the end of the national conference of All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) to be held in Cochin next month. Further, the AIBOA would await the budget proposals for the next financial year. He also said that the financial inclusion programme would be defeated if the banks were merged. The number of branches would be reduced and the customers would be deprived of their right to select a bank of their choice.
The public sector banks had undertaken strike for 45 times protesting the privatisation move, the last one being on December 20.
Mr. Nagarajan said that the AIBOA was preparing a list of non-performing assets which would be made public in course of time.
M.A. Srinivasan, general secretary of Canara Bank Officers’ Union, underlined the need for filling up the vacant posts in public sector banks. About two lakh posts were lying vacant in various cadres.
Later, they addressed district office bearers of the AIBOA. K. Kandasamy, district general secretary, spoke.
