Bankers oppose govt directive

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 22

The All-India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) expressed resentment against the directive to engage bankers for the Aadhaar enrolment work. They rued that there was an acute shortage of officers and employees in the banking industry, which had further aggravated with mass retirements every month. The workload is increasing manifold with a rise in the number of customers.

In a joint statement issued by Deepak Sharma, joint general secretary, AIBOC; and Rajiv Sirhindi, secretary, AIBOC, Punjab, stated that it was worth recalling the contribution of the bankers to the successful implementation of all government-sponsored schemes.

They said for instance, under the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, public sector and regional rural banks had opened 29.13 crore accounts while more than 62.58 mudra loans, amounting to Rs 79,687 crore, had been processed by the public sector banks. 

They said now the banks had been asked to complete the Aadhaar seeding and open enrolment centres. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has asked private as well as public banks to open Aadhaar enrolment and updation facilities, failing which Rs 20,000 will be charged from per uncovered branch every month.