Bank employees to go for month long nationwide stir

Imphal, Jul 2 (UNI) All India Bank Employees' Association and other allies has called a strike on August 1 to oppose the World Bank, IMF and World Trade Organisation, which were 'generating' profit from social services.

Central Committee member of the association S Indrakumar few sections were trying to take over the entire banking services in the name of liberalization, privatisation and globalisation.

''The country is already experiencing the side effects of foreign direct investment(FDI) in the banking services. The 28 private banks in the country have only Rs 36000 crore share while that of the public was around Rs 3,60,000 crore,'' Indrakumar said.

The attempt of introducing the bill was to increase the voting rights of foreign stakeholders. It has created a lot of furore in the recent past as the entire control of the banks will in the clutches of the big corporate houses.

The Left parties were also against such a move of the Congress-led government.

The state government had plans to decrease its share from 51 percent and did not recover Rs 2,36,000 crores of loan taken by some individuals, the association said.

On July 3 a memorandum would be submitted to the Union Finance minister followed by a demonstration on July 6. A centralized demonstration would be carried out on July 11 following a strike notice on July 14.

All India campaign would be carried out on July 19 followed by 'dharnas' at all the state capitals on July 25.

Depending on the steps taken up by the government, the employees would chalk out their strategies in a central committee meeting and may start an indefinite cease work strike if required.

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