Karnataka Gramin Bank Grapples with 46% of Staff Shortage and Overburdening Existing Workforce

Karnataka Gramin Bank (KGB) is grappling with a substantial staff shortage. In a recent revelation, the bank is found to be plagued with a 46% staff shortage across various scales, except for Scale V. This workforce deficit is severely impacting the bank’s operations, necessitating urgent attention and action.

KGB’s total required working strength is 9,176, while the existing working strength is only 4,954, resulting in a total shortage of 4,222 staff members.

Breakdown of Staff Shortages

Karnataka Gramin Bank was established in 2019 and operates with 1,122 branches across 22 districts of the state. The highest shortage is in the Scale II cadre, with 1,218 vacancies out of a required 1,984 positions, followed by Office Assistants, with 1,196 vacancies out of a required 2,553 positions.

The bank also faces a severe shortage of 852 Office Attendants, with an existing strength of only 186 against a required strength of 1,038. The Scale III cadre has a shortage of 775, with 163 existing staff against a required strength of 938. The Scale IV cadre has the least shortage, with 187 vacancies.

In contrast, the Scale V cadre is in surplus, with an existing count of 21 compared to a required strength of 12.

Image: Karnataka Gramin Bank Vacancy Data 

Source: Karnataka Gramin Bank Employees Union

Overburdened Workforce

Karnataka Gramin Bank employees are functioning under immense pressure and in an overburdened environment. A member of the AIRRBEA affiliated Karnataka Gramin Bank Employees Union (KGBEU) told Kanal, “The bank incurred losses in FY 2023-24 with employees working under overburdened conditions. It's an overall loss for the well-being of the employees as the work-life balance is deteriorating with each passing day.”

Another KGBEU member stated, “Office Assistants, who handle various customer service tasks such as opening accounts and cash deposits, are being replaced by employees and officials across 50-100 branches of the bank. This situation highlights the poor working conditions we are facing.”

There is simmering discontent among the employees, which is expected to take the form of protests in the upcoming days, as alleged by another bank official.

Violation of Mitra Committee Guidelines

According to the S.K Mitra Committee guidelines, the count of Officer Assistants should be 1 and 2 in Category A, B, and C branches, with business ranging between Rs. 10 crore to Rs. 75 crore, whereas Category D and E should have a higher count with business ranging from Rs. 76 crore to more than Rs. 200 crore.

Image: Staffing Pattern of RRB Branches as per S K Mitra Committee

Staff Shortage: A Uniform Challenge

In the past few months, the shortage of manpower has created unrest across various RRBs including Baroda UP Bank, Baroda Rajasthan Kshetriya Gramin Bank (BRKGB), Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank (BGGB), Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank (UBGB), and Tamil Nadu Grama Bank (TNGB). Gramin bankers have voiced their discontent through protests and online campaigns seeking “Justice For Gramin Banks.”

The shortage of staff at KGB underscores the urgent need for immediate and effective measures to comply with the Mitra Committee guidelines. The severe shortage not only affects the bank’s operational efficiency but also hampers its ability to serve its customers effectively.