NABARD Holds XIII JCC Meeting, Reviews Key Issues in Regional Rural Banks

The meeting was chaired by NABARD Chairman K. V. Shaji and attended by A. K. Das, representing the Department of Financial Services (DFS). Senior NABARD officials — including Chief General Managers, General Managers, Deputy General Managers, and Assistant General Managers — took part. The session also saw participation from the State Bank of India, Chairmen of Tamil Nadu Grama Bank (TNGB) and Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank (UPGB), and officials from the Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.

The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) was formed in 2009 by the then Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to review the performance of Regional Rural Banks and facilitate resolution of systemic, administrative, and staff-related challenges. It serves as an institutional dialogue mechanism between management and employees under the supervision of NABARD and the DFS.

The meeting was attended by all the apex unions of RRBs including the All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association (AIRRBEA), National Federation of RRB Employees (NFRRBE), National Federation of RRB Officers (NFRRBO), National Federation of RRB Retired Staff (NFRRRBS), All India Gramin Bank Officers’ Association (AIGBOA), All India Gramin Bank Workers’ Organisation (AIGBWO), All India Gramin Bank Employees’ Association (AIGBEA), and All India RRB Officers’ Federation (AIRRBOF).

The meeting discussed long-pending issues relating to recruitment, promotions, transfer policy, and HR service regulations within RRBs. The agenda also included a review of actions taken since the previous JCC meeting held in June 2024.

Key Focus of the Meeting
The following key points were tabled for discussion as part of the official agenda:

Image: The agenda wise points for discussion during 13th JCC Meeting of RRBs

A participant told Kanal on condition of anonymity, “Many RRBs are yet to implement the 12th Bipartite Settlement and 9th Joint Note. Irregularities in recruitment, promotions, and transfers, along with delays in pension, computer increment, and compassionate appointments, were also raised. The pending transfer of EPF funds remains a major concern.”

Assurance from DFS and NABARD

Sources present at the meeting informed that both DFS and NABARD officials assured union representatives that the amendment of service regulations, revision of designations, and modifications to leave and HR policies are already in progress and will be finalised soon.

It was also conveyed that the formulation of a scheme for regularisation of daily wage and casual workers in RRBs is underway and likely to be rolled out within the next two to three months.

The 12th Joint Consultative Committee meeting had earlier been held in Mumbai on June 12, 2024, where several pending staff-related and policy issues were tabled — many of which were revisited during this session for follow-up action.

As RRBs mark 50 years of their formation, the meeting reinforced NABARD’s commitment to ensuring that the institutions remain efficient, inclusive, and compliant with both financial and human resource standards essential for sustaining rural banking.