Finally, After One Year, Bankers Have Got Their Due Recognition As “Covid -19 Warriors : Four Bank Unions Write To Government
After the 229th Report of the Department related to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on Management of Covid 19 pandemic and related issues became public, recognizing Bank employees as frontline Covid- 19 Warriors, four major bank unions including the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA), Indian National Bank Officers’ Congress (INBOC) and National Organization of Bank Officers (NOBO) have thanked the government for finally recognizing them as frontline “Covid-19 Warriors” and have also requested the government to discuss with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to arrange for vaccination of all Bank employees including contractual workers and their family members on priority basis. The letter written by the bank unions to Secretary, Department of Financial Services, is given below for the benefit of the viewers of www.indianpsu,com –
Shri Debashish Panda
Secretary, Department of Financial Services Government of India
NEW DELHI – 110 001
Date: 25.03.2021
Dear Sir,
229th Report of the Department related to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on Management of Covid 19 pandemic and related issues – Recognition of Bank employees as frontline Covid- 19 Warriors.
We have been given to understand that an advisory has been sent from your good office to all MD & CEOs of member banks including the Chairman, SBI containing appreciation and acknowledgement of efforts and pains taken by Banking personnel for providing seamless banking services during Covid-19 outbreak and consequent lockdown and also the fact that many bank employees had laid down their lives in the line of duty.
02. We are extremely thankful to Govt of India especially the Parliament Standing Committee on Home Affairs on Management of Covid 19 Pandemic for their gesture. You are aware that while the entire society was forced upon to be confined at home and observe social distancing, the bank workforce was constrained to work overtime, meet and contact more and more people, exposing themselves to the gravest risks of viral infection while implementing all Government schemes and keeping the wheels of the economy moving. The Union government has since introduced a scheme of insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh for nearly 22 lakh workers in healthcare services, who have provided yeoman service in this testing time during nationwide lockdown and thereafter, to offer a protective umbrella for their family as also in recognition of their contribution.
03. While the Government has duly recognised the contribution of bankers, we urge upon your good office to extend the benefit of Rs 50 lakh to the next kin of the deceased employee (who died due to Covid) uniformly across all banks in line with the scheme announced by Central Government. We are of the considered view that this is a right initiative in recognizing the noble service being rendered by the entire fraternity to the benefit of the public at large. In addition to the enhanced Insurance Cover, the Compassionate Ground appointments of the deceased workforce should be fast tracked thereby demonstrating the human touch in dealing with the cases. An advisory to that extent, if it can be sent to Banks, we shall be highly obliged, for your act of kindness.
04. As the second wave of corona virus is surging in the country, we request you to take up with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to arrange for vaccination of all Bank employees including contractual workers and their family members on priority basis as Bank employees have been ‘classified’ as Covid -19 warriors and are continuing to work as frontline warriors providing full banking facilities to the public and implementing all Govt schemes risking their lives.
