Exclusive: Daily Deputations Without Allowance Take a Toll on Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank Employees

Speaking to Kanal under the assurance of anonymity, the employee revealed that they have been deputed to more than 10 branches within just a month — often to locations 50–60 km away from their regular posting. With no provision of travel allowance or dearness allowance, the employee claimed to be bearing all the expenses themselves, frequently switching between 2–3 vehicles daily to report to different locations.

“This not only affects me physically but also mentally. I’m not even from Kashmir and every day I have to travel 100–110 km just to do my job,” the employee shared.

Same Employee Deputed Repeatedly, Alleged Bias in Deployment

The anonymous staff member further alleged that the burden of deputation falls disproportionately on a single set of employees. “The same people are deputed again and again while others are spared,” they said, calling it a reflection of flawed and unfair internal deployment policies.

Image: Official order of deputation of an office assistant without loan disbursement power.

A deputation order dated June 4, 2024 — reviewed by Kanal — corroborates the claim of short-term deputations. The order shows a one-day posting of an employee as in-charge at a different branch without loaning powers, substantiating the pattern of daily relocations.

Lack of Rationalisation of Staff

Several employees at Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank have pointed to a wider structural issue — the lack of staff rationalisation across regions. An officer from the Kashmir division told Kanal that office assistants are often deputed to function as acting branch heads, even though they lack the authority to sanction loans. “The disparity is striking. Jammu district has more staff strength than the entire Kashmir region. While branches in Jammu are equipped with a Manager (Advances), Manager (Accounts), cashier, and an SLBC officer, branches in Kashmir often run with just a branch manager and an office assistant,” the employee noted.

They further questioned why this imbalance exists, arguing that core banking services are being diluted. “Customer service isn’t just about taking deposits and enabling withdrawals — it includes credit dispensation. That side of the service is being overlooked in Kashmir due to staff shortages, and this cannot be ignored any longer,” they added.

Need for Transparent Deputation Policy

The staff member has appealed to higher authorities for intervention, demanding a fair and transparent deputation policy that considers employees’ well-being. “We are physically and mentally exhausted. We joined to serve, not to be burnt out,” the person said.

This case raises serious questions about how RRBs like J&K Grameen Bank are managing staff deployment post-amalgamation and whether the existing HR practices are sustainable in the long run, especially in a sensitive region like Jammu and Kashmir.