Maharashtra Gramin Bank Employees Await Action Against Attack on Officer

Employees of Maharashtra Gramin Bank (MGB) are urgently awaiting action and justice following the brutal attack on a fellow banker in Beed district, Maharashtra on October 1, 2024. With the bank remaining closed for 17 days, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) in MGB submitted a memorandum to the District Collector, demanding justice for the assault on branch manager Rahul Bhalekar by the accused, Tushar Fand.

In the memorandum dated October 16, 2024, the UFBU raised concerns that the accused, despite an FIR being filed against him, has been granted bail and is freely roaming around the village where the branch is located. This has created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among the staff, who fear the possibility of a repeated assault.

Image: Letter of UFBU to the District Collector

The UFBU also stressed that, given the criminal nature of the accused, the safety of the branch manager and staff is at severe risk. They demanded that he be exiled from the district to ensure the employees' safety and called for the provision of a secure working environment for the branch staff.

Image: The UFBU delegation submitting memorandum to the Beed District Collector

On October 1, Dharmapuri branch manager Rahul Bhalekar was brutally attacked during a loan pre-sanction visit. Fortunately, he was rescued by daily wage laborers present at the site, preventing further harm.

Maharashtra Gramin Bank, established on July 20, 2009, after the amalgamation of Maharashtra Godavari Gramin Bank and Marathwada Gramin Bank, operates 425 branches with approximately 1,800 employees.

Protection of Bankers, A Priority

According to Sujay Nale Patil, a leader of the UFBU, the Dharmapuri branch of Maharashtra Gramin Bank (MGB) has faced multiple instances of physical assault recently. This has raised serious concerns over the safety of employees, making it an urgent issue in need of redressal.

Sujay Nale told Kanal, “Employees of the Dharmapuri branch of Maharashtra Gramin Bank (MGB) have refused to return to work since the branch's closure on October 1, citing security concerns. Staff members are demanding three key measures before resuming duties: adequate police protection, relocation of the branch to a safer area, and the implementation of stricter laws to prevent such attacks. The absence of a secure working environment has left the branch without personnel willing to take on the job. These incidents are creating a hostile environment for the banking sector in rural areas, turning their duties into a risky affair.”

On October 16, upset employees gathered at MGB's Beed regional office to voice their concerns and submitted a letter to the bank’s Chairman. They called for swift action from the management in response to the recent assault, demanding that their safety be prioritised.

Image: MGB employees submitting letter to the Chairman at Beed Regional Office

Increasing Trend of Attack on Bankers

The increasing incidents of violence against bankers in Maharashtra have sparked widespread concern, with banking unions demanding immediate action. Recently, employees of RRBs like Madhyanchal Gramin Bank and Rajasthan Marudhara Gramin Bank across India have also faced such violent attacks.

The assault on a Maharashtra Gramin Bank manager highlights the growing threat faced by bankers, underscoring the urgent need for redressal. This has fuelled calls for the enactment of a Bankers Protection Act to safeguard banking professionals, a movement that is rapidly gaining momentum.