GOI’s VBSY Order Puts Strain on Bankers Amidst Staff Shortage Crisis: Employees Federation Opposes

In response to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare's notification on the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY), the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) has raised concerns over the government's directive, stating that it places an additional burden on already overworked bankers.

The VSBY with the declared goal of promoting government welfare schemes, has been flagged off by the Prime Minister on 15 November 2023. Directions are given to the top level management of PSBs to observe the yatra as a showcase of Government of India’s (GOI’s) achievements over the last nine years. However, the BEFI regards the same as a thinly veiled election campaign utilising government departments, including public sector banks.

In a press statement issued by Debashish Basu, the General Secretary of BEFI, it is highlighted that the VBSY involves the active participation of banks, with minimum block-wise targets for different schemes. Administrative heads are instructed to ensure target achievements and monitor branch performance on a daily basis.

It is assumed that the banks will be spending money in crores for the propagation of electioneering of the ruling party for the programme. Moreover, all the banks are suffering from acute manpower shortage which is having adverse effects on customer service. Engagement of bank personnel in such a high profile government programme will further aggravate the situation - the statement read.

The organisation also expressed apprehension that failure to participate in the campaign, even on holidays, may lead to punishment for bank employees, including Business Correspondents (BCs). The Public Sector Banks (PSBs), already grappling with severe manpower shortages affecting customer service, will now face further strain due to the engagement of staff in the high-profile government program, the statement said.

However on 04 December, the Delhi High Court while considering a plea against the use of bureaucrats and army for poll campaigns, sought the Union Government’s stand on the issue. The VBSY is related to the direction from the government of India to all the ministries to depute civil servants and government employees as “rath prabharis”(special officers) to “showcase/celebrate achievements of the government in the last 9 years”. Similarly, the University Grants Commission also asked the universities and colleges to set up selfie points with images of PM Narendra Modi in the background. Apprehensions are aloud against the move to utilise the government machinery and infrastructure for ‘a high voltage election campaign’ ahead of Lok Sabha polls 2024. Many former civil servants say this move will account to the ‘politicisation of the civil services’.

Speaking to Kanal, Debashish Basu also demanded implementation of the suggestions proposed by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Samyukta Kisan Morcha(SKM) during the recent Mahapadav. “The common bank employees may be bound by service rules to implement a government order. But the political parties and civil society must come forward to oppose this misuse of public funds and bank employees for narrow electoral gains. Such actions by the ruling dispensation are inappropriate’ and they should reconsider” – he added.