Aryavart Bank Officers Raise Concerns Over Promotion Disparities and Benefits Post-RRB Amalgamation

Lucknow, 23 April 2025
In light of the ongoing amalgamation of 43 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) across India, including the formation of the Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank, the Aryavart Bank Officers’ Association has submitted multiple representations to NABARD authorities highlighting potential disparities in the promotion process and expressing apprehension about staff welfare post-amalgamation.

(The letter from Aryavart Bank Officers’ Association to the Chief General Manager, NABARD Regional Office, Lucknow regarding inequity in promotional opportunities.)

Disparity in Promotions Raises Alarm

In letters dated 22 April 2025 to the Chief General Manager, NABARD, Lucknow, and the National Monitoring Committee on RRB Amalgamation, the association highlighted that while Baroda UP Bank and Purvanchal Bank, the other two RRBs in Uttar Pradesh, have already initiated promotions for the financial year 2025–26, Aryavart Bank has not released any such notification. This delay, they argue, places Aryavart Bank staff at a disadvantage in inter-se seniority, adversely affecting career progression.

Quoting SOP clause 12.3 of NABARD’s guidelines on RRB amalgamation, the letters state:

“The transferee RRB can adopt/ratify/modify the decisions of the erstwhile Boards… with an objective of ensuring natural justice to all the staff… by providing equal opportunity.”

The association called for the issuance of uniform directives to all merging RRBs to ensure consistent interpretation and implementation of the SOP to protect constitutional rights to equal opportunity.

(The letter from Aryavart Bank Officers’ Association to the National Monitoring Committee (RRB Amalgamation) regarding inequity in promotional opportunities.)

Appeal for Uniform Staff Benefits Post-amalgamation

In a separate letter addressed to NABARD’s Chairman and Chief General Manager in Mumbai, the association raised concerns about the potential dilution of employee benefits and facilities following the amalgamation, effective from 01 May 2025. They stressed that any existing benefits available in any of the merging RRBs must be retained in the unified bank.

The letter urged NABARD to issue a nationwide circular mandating uniform application of employee facilities, stating:

“Post-merger, no benefit currently available to staff should be arbitrarily curtailed or withdrawn under misinterpretation of directives.”

(The letter from Aryavart Bank Officers’ Association to the Chairman and Chief General Manager, NABARD (Mumbai and Lucknow) demanding preservation of existing staff benefits and facilities post-RRB amalgamation.)

The Aryavart Bank Officers’ Association has called for swift and fair action from NABARD to safeguard staff interests amid the structural transitions in the regional rural banking sector. As the “One State, One RRB” model progresses, the implementation of equal promotion policies and retention of existing staff benefits will be key to ensuring a just and smooth amalgamation process.