State Bank Group officers hold demonstration

Patiala, Oct 10 (UNI) Demanding extension of superannuation benefits to Associate Banks as available in State Bank of India, the officers of State Bank Group today held demonstration outside Head Office of State Bank of Patiala.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Amar Singh, General Secretary, Associate Banks Officers' Association unit State Bank of Patiala stated that the officers of State Bank Group have been forced by the Management of State Bank of India and the Central Government to resort to agitation as the Management has failed to give firm commitments on improvements on superannuation scheme and also keeping in abeyance merger proposal of remaining six Associate Banks.

Mr Singh apprised the members that the officers from State Bank Group will go on indefinite strike from October 20 in case the State Bank Management fails to satisfy the genuine demands of the officers of State Bank Group.

"There is a need to protect the existing structure of the State Bank of India and its Associate Banks. These banks were created with a specific task of providing the banking facilities to the interior parts of the country through a vast network of branches in particular the rural areas of our country. The attempt to reduce the number of the Associate Banks by its merger is a great disservice to the common man of the country," he said.

The State Bank of India has been able to maintain its brand equity through its Associate Banks which are catering to their own clientele in their respective area of operation, he added.

UNI XC PS MMS1802