Joint Forum of Dakshin Bihar Gramin Bank Unions Alleges Abusive Behaviour by AGM Towards Female Employees

The Joint Forum of Dakshin Bihar Gramin Bank (DBGB) Unions has issued a strongly worded letter to the bank’s Chairman, condemning the alleged abusive behaviour of Assistant General Manager (AGM) Pushpendra Kumar Ghosh towards female employees. The incident reportedly occurred on July 11, 2024, at the Naugachia branch, Bhagalpur region, where the AGM is accused of using derogatory language and making inappropriate comments.

Allegations of Misconduct

The unions expressed deep sorrow and frustration over the incident, highlighting the distress and humiliation faced by the female employees. 

The letter dated July 16, 2024 describes how the AGM used offensive language and made derogatory remarks about the physical appearance of employees and professional capabilities. Specific phrases mentioned in the letter include insults like “tum log tip-top ban kar, matargasti mat karo,” and “mujhe tum logon ki acchi soorat nahi chahiye” (You people, stop fooling around by dressing up nicely. I do not need good faces in the bank).

Image: Joint Forum of DBGB Unions letter to bank’s Chairman on unprofessional conduct of the AGM

Call for Immediate Action

In addition to the abusive language, the unions accused the AGM of creating a hostile work environment through threats of transfer and intimidation. The letter recounts instances where the AGM allegedly threatened employees with dire consequences if they did not comply with his demands. This behaviour has reportedly created a climate of fear and anxiety among the staff. The staff abuse also continues over online meetings  

The unions have called for the immediate transfer of the AGM from the Bhagalpur region, emphasising that his presence is detrimental to the work environment and overall morale of the staff. They also urged the management to initiate a thorough investigation into the allegations and take appropriate disciplinary action.

The Joint Forum, comprising various union representatives, has demanded immediate action against the AGM. They stressed the urgency of addressing the issue to prevent further instances of such behaviour, which they claim is not isolated but part of a broader pattern of misconduct by the AGM.

A member of the Joint Forum of DBGB Unions told Kanal, “The AGM, who is also a Regional Manager, has a history of abusive behaviour. As a serial offender, the lack of action against him has made him fearless. Employees across the bank are subjected to undignified and unprofessional language, with female employees particularly targeted by personal remarks about their appearance.”

“The unprofessional behaviour by a senior official sets a dangerous precedent and normalises unethical practices. Therefore, we are demanding immediate action,” added the banker.

Dakshin Bihar Gramin Bank was established in 2019. It is spread across its 20 districts mainly in southern Bihar with 1078 branches and is the largest RRB in Bihar.

Furthermore, the unions have requested the enforcement of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, to address the grievances and ensure a safe and respectful workplace for all employees. They have sought intervention from higher authorities, including the National Commission for Women, the Ministry of Finance, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), to ensure that justice is served.

The letter has been copied to several key officials, including the Finance Minister, the Managing Director of Punjab National Bank, and various union leaders, to ensure widespread awareness and prompt action. As the situation unfolds in DBGB, employees across various gramin banks like Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank, Utkal Grameen Bank and Baroda UP Bank have raised serious allegations of abuse and misbehaviour against the regional managers.