Odisha Grameen Bank CSAs Report Heavy Workload, Leave Denials Following Amalgamation Directives

After the amalgamation of Odisha Gramya Bank (OGB) and Utkal Grameen Bank (UGB), several branches are functioning with minimal officer strength. In many cases, branches reportedly have only two officers and a single CSA, yet CSAs are being directed to maintain all service registers, account opening documentation, cash management records, KYC updation, and day-to-day desk operations.

A recent office order issued in a Keonjhar-region branch lists over 15 operational and compliance responsibilities to be routinely maintained by a CSA, including cash handling registers, ATM registers, account mobilisation targets, Aadhaar seeding, CKYC updation, daily branch opening and closing reporting, and customer grievance resolution. CSAs state that such comprehensive responsibilities traditionally fall under officer-level roles or are shared across staff.

There are around 1,304 CSAs posted across 980 branches of Odisha Grameen Bank.

Leave Denial Amid Work Pressure

CSAs also report that leave requests are being regularly declined, citing “work pressure” and “branch requirements.” They argue that refusal of earned or medical leave, without alternate staffing support, has resulted in continuous duty without relief, affecting morale and work-life balance.

One CSA from Keonjhar region, requesting anonymity told Kanal, “We are carrying the load because the branch has fewer staff. But threatening or forcing us to handle officer-level registers and denying leave is harassment. There is no clarity on limits of responsibility.”

Another CSA from the Dhenkanal region said, “We are being made to handle all entry-level and customer service work even when two or three officers are present in the branch. Some branch managers also ask us to complete loan documents after working hours and push targets like PMJJBY and PMSBY in their name. When leave is denied and responsibilities keep increasing without support, it stops being just work pressure and becomes an unfair practice.”

Last month, CSAs across the Dhenkanal Region also flagged intense pressure for PMSBY enrollments, stating that these targets were pushed onto them in addition to regular branch duties. 

The continuing trend of workload and concerns flagged by CSAs underscores an alarming situation about work-life balance and employee welfare in OGB and overall Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).