Ever since the lockdown, the doctors and the police personnel have emerged as the frontline soldiers in the battle against the novel coronavirus, but there are many more who are fighting this battle by serving the country during this difficult period. These include the 10 lakh bank employees who are fighting against the virus without any ‘safety cover’.
“Without any doubt, our doctors and health workers and those from the police department are the most vulnerable. Many of them have died, but they also have the resources to protect themselves, like the PPE (personal protective equipment) kits. Bank employees are also at risk. Every day hundreds of people come to the bank, we don’t know who is carrying the disease. We are only equipped with sanitizers,” an official from the Gramin Bank in Uttar Pradesh said on the condition of anonymity.
At 9.30 AM, when Archana Mishra, an assistant bank manager at another Gramin Bank in Uttar Pradesh reached her bank 60 km away from her home, she came across a crowd of around 300 people. Only 10-15 people had put on a mask; the men had covered their faces with gamchas and the women with their sari pallu.
She said: “We are withdrawing cash for about 300-350 people a day. Everyone who comes inside the bank cleans the hands, but we have to touch the withdrawal slips. We even touch their passbook, the money has to be handed over to them. If someone is infected, there is a risk, there is fear.”
Archana, who has a daughter, added: “When I go home, I try to sanitize everything. I bathe in warm water. I don’t go anywhere near my daughter for half-an-hour. But, the next day, I come to the bank again because it is a difficult time and we must help everyone. It is the call of our duty and humanity.”
In the wake of the coronavirus lockdown, a large part of the Rs 1.7 lakh-crore economic package announced by the government to bail people out during the lockdown has reached the accounts of the people. Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, Rs 500 each have been sent to the Jan Dhan accounts of more than 20 crore women. Rs 800 each are being sent to the Ujjwala Yojana accounts, elderly and widow pension for three months has been distributed, the farmers have also been given Rs 2,000 each. In addition, several state governments have also provided financial assistance to people under various schemes. People have been lining up outside banks, especially in rural areas, since April 3. The government will send money to these accounts for three months.
According to the data released by the government, there are about 10 lakh employees (till March 2018) in the public sector (government, commercial banks) in the country, while more than four lakh employees are working in private banks. But most of the government help is reaching out to the public through the public sector banks.
Due to the rising corona cases in the country and several positive cases of coronavirus detected in rural areas, bank employees working in the rural pockets of the country are worried about their safety. They say that they have to observe social distancing while discharging their duties and they are being equipped with only some sanitizer and face mask.
Madan Jain, the state secretary (Madhya Pradesh) of the All India Bank Officers’ Federation, said: “We had dealt with massive crowds even during demonetization, but then we had faced only human being like us, we didn’t have to deal with an invisible enemy like the corona virus. We were not under any threat or risk. Now there is fear. We do not know which customer is infected. The problem is that we do not have PPE kits like doctors and other departments. And the administration is not able to provide such equipment to us.”
He added: “The central government has directed money to the Jan Dhan accounts of more than 20 crore women. There are about 5 crore Ujjwala Yojana holders. In Uttar Pradesh, 20 lakh labourers are getting the money whereas it has gone to the accounts of 8 lakh labourers (registered) in Madhya Pradesh. So, talking about the entire country, about 40 crore people have received money under various schemes in their accounts. These people are also coming to the banks to withdraw money due to lockdown. There are also a large number of migrant people who have returned from cities to their homes.”
Many bank employees have also raised their voices through social media. The bank employees want to be provided an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh each.
Vinay Kumar Anju, the assistant general manager of the Bank of India branch located in the urban area at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, wrote on his Facebook wall: “The police, army, doctors, paramedical staff, sanitation workers and people who deliver milk, newspapers, etc, are being lauded by everyone for their services and it is totally justified. Despite difficulties, these people are working and putting their lives to risk, and they should be appreciated. However, the bank workers are kept out of this recognition. There is no mention about them in any newspaper or TV channel.”
Though the bank employees have been raising their voices through social media, the State Bank of India has also issued a warning that no one should be posting against the bank on social media.
Most of the money in banks (especially, the 20.40 crore Jan Dhan accounts) has come into the accounts that have transacted for the first time since their opening (2015). This money has been released in several installments by the government. At the same time, the money under various heads has also reached the accounts at different times, which is why people are also reaching out repeatedly to withdraw them. About four people are involved in the process of withdrawing money in the bank, which includes processes such as cash counters, withdrawal slips, signatures or thumb matching etc.
A bank employee, who was handing over withdrawal forms to people standing outside a national bank in Lucknow, informed: “Most of the people who are coming to the bank at this time withdraw Rs 500-1,000. A lot of these people are not educated. They are not able to fill up the withdrawal slips. Someone else fills the details and they put the thumb imprint. Such problems will persist.”
At numerous places, the banks have put up tents for the convenience of their customers. Seating arrangements have also been made, but not only it becomes difficult for them to handle the crowds in the morning, but they also become the target of the police. In Madhya Pradesh, the police had slapped a bank manager in Morena, which had raised an outrage. There have also been reports of altercations between bank employees and people at many places.
Subhash Chandra, the senior manager of the Aryavarat Bank Fatehpur in the Barabanki of Uttar Pradesh, said: “There isn’t enough place within the bank so we ask people to queue up outside. Keeping social distancing in mind we have made circles. We have the full cooperation of the police and the administration. These times call for humanity beyond duty so we must extend every possible help to everyone. We are also engaged in our service towards the country. However, corona as a disease is fearsome.”
When asked about the safety of bank staff and customers, Madan Jain, the chairman of the SBI Officers’ Association and Secretary, All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) in Madhya Pradesh, said: “Banks have put up guards for managing the crowd. The bank employees, even the canteen boys, are engaged in the sanitization and other work. We even make people aware to keep distance. But the crowds are not under our control. We don’t not blame the police because they have a lot of responsibility. But we are not satisfied with our safety provisions too. We do not have the resources; we are not even mentioned anywhere.”
According to the information received from the Department of Finance Services’ Twitter account, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while praising the bank employees on April 21, not only called them corona warriors, but also talked about for the insurance of bank employees and compensation for the demise.
“Most of the people involved in the battle with COVID-19 have been insured for Rs 50 lakh, many banks have provided insurance of 20 lakh, many places are talking about 8 lakh insurance. It’s all right, but in the wake of the pandemic, we are at the mercy of God and so we’ve decided what will be, will be,” a nationalized bank’s employee confessed at the condition of anonymity.
