Advertisement
Punjab National Bank Agricultural Officers Flag Adverse Working Conditions, Seek Urgent Reforms
All India Punjab National Bank Agricultural Officers’ Association has submitted a representation to Punjab National Bank. The letter highlights challenges faced by Agricultural Field Officers and seeks systemic improvements.
Author: Kalyani Mali
Published: September 3, 2025
Advertisement
The All India Punjab National Bank Agricultural Officers’ Association formally wrote to Shri Ashok Chandra, Managing Director & CEO of Punjab National Bank (PNB), on 1 September 2025, raising concerns about adverse working conditions, systemic constraints, and issues affecting the motivation and productivity of Agricultural Field Officers (AOs). The association has urged the management to address these challenges in the interest of organisational goals and employee welfare.
Unrealistic Targets
According to the representation, Agricultural Officers are being assigned weekly and monthly targets without consideration of branch demographics and agricultural potential. The association pointed out that earlier, annual targets were more practical and achievable.
Image: Representation submitted by All India Punjab National Bank Agricultural Officers’ Association to PNB management.
Courtesy: AIPNB AGRI OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
Working Conditions and Administrative Issues
The association highlighted that many Agricultural Officers are posted in rural branches lacking proper infrastructure, office space, reliable connectivity, and modern equipment. It urged the bank to prioritise renovation and upgrades in such locations.
Advertisement
Concerns were also raised about workplace mistreatment, with instances of humiliation during official meetings reportedly affecting morale. Restrictions on deputation movements and delays in processing TA bills were mentioned as additional hurdles, limiting officers’ field presence and causing financial stress.
Appraisal, Postings and IT Challenges
The representation pointed to flaws in the PMS (Udaan) appraisal system, where only base branch performance is considered, leaving out contributions made across multiple branches. Officers also reported difficulties in regions without linguistic alignment, which hampers effective client communication and growth.
Persistent IT and connectivity issues, even years after the merger, were cited as another major challenge, disrupting day-to-day operations and causing delays.
Ethical and Business Concerns
The association also flagged pressure on officers for forced availments and window dressing in SHG and CC accounts. It stated that such practices create compliance risks and undermine sustainable growth.
Financial Impact Analysis
The association’s financial analysis indicated that each Agricultural Officer generates an average annual income of around ₹50 lakhs for the bank, while the total expense per officer, including salary, perks, and TA bills, is about ₹18.10 lakhs. With 1,500 officers, this translates into a combined annual income of ₹750 crores against total expenses of ₹271.50 crores, resulting in a net yearly benefit of ₹478.50 crores to PNB.
Conclusion and Requests
The association concluded that Agricultural Officers face demotivation and stagnation, which may impact both appraisal outcomes and the bank’s agricultural portfolio growth. It urged Punjab National Bank to take corrective steps, including improving rural infrastructure, streamlining TA bill processing, reviewing appraisal systems, ensuring respectful workplace culture, resolving IT issues, and setting realistic targets.
No comments yet.