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Rajasthan Gramin Bank Retirees' Association Protest Over Pension Rights and Transparency
Over 300 Rajasthan Gramin Bank retired officers staged a dharna at Jodhpur head office alleging post-amalgamation cuts in pension, gratuity and transparency, demands updated IDs, grievance cell and written assurances as protests continue.
Author: Neha Bodke
Published: 1 hour ago
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Jodhpur witnessed an unprecedented show of unity by retired officers and staff of Rajasthan Gramin Bank (RGB) as the Rajasthan Gramin Bank Retirees’ Association staged a day-long dharna outside the Bank’s Camp Office on September 17, 2025. More than 300 retirees from across all regions of the bank participated despite the harsh weather conditions.
Image: Photo from the dharna
Image Courtesy: Banwari Lal
According to the Association, the protest was called after negotiations with the Bank management broke down on Monday. Initially, the Chairman reportedly showed sympathy towards the retirees’ charter of demands and verbally agreed to several points. However, the talks faltered when the management allegedly refused to give written minutes of the meeting, citing procedural delays such as “typing” and “email transmission.”
The Association described this as “delaying tactics” and said retirees lost faith in the assurances. Vehicles were reportedly parked overnight at the venue to block the protest site, but the retirees went ahead, placed chairs and began the dharna at 9 am. The Bank Chairman was absent from the office during the demonstration.
Key grievances raised by the Association
Association Convenor Banwari Lal said to Kanal that the dharna is rooted in issues dating back to the amalgamation of SBI sponsored Rajasthan Marudhara Gramin Bank and Bank of Baroda sponsored Baroda Rajasthan Kshetriya Gramin Bank . “Government notification had clearly said that the facilities enjoyed by erstwhile BRKGB retirees would continue after amalgamation. But after our amalgamation under SBI, management started cutting pension benefits and other payments of BRKGB retirees,” he stated.
Among the major issues cited:
1. Family Pension Rule 37 – Where the rule provides 50% family pension up to age 65 and 30% thereafter, retirees who were entitled to 50% are allegedly being paid only 30%.
2. Gratuity Calculation – Under BRKGB, gratuity was calculated on basic pay plus allowances; under Rajasthan Gramin Bank it is only on basic pay.
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3. Advance Legal Notices – Retirees reportedly receive legal notices from bank lawyers even before approaching court, which the Association calls “an intimidation tactic.”
4. Identity & Grievance Cell – The Association demands that all pensioner IDs and documents be updated to show the amalgamated name Rajasthan Gramin Bank and that a dedicated grievance cell be created to hear pensioners’ issues, as was the practice earlier at regional level.
5. Transparency of Pension Trust – The retirees seek annual balance sheets and legal accounting of the pension fund.
6.Recovery Notices – In one case, the bank allegedly issued a recovery notice for ₹22.53 lakh against a retiree for payments already made.
Image: Photos from the dharna
Image Courtesy: Banwari Lal
Future Actions Announced
Throughout the day, the protestors raised slogans against the management’s “high-handedness” and announced a series of future actions, including:
-Dharna at all regional offices of the bank.
-Gherao of the Chairman and General Manager during their official visits.
-Decision on indefinite dharna and hunger strike.
-Complaints to the Government of India, NABARD and the Central Vigilance Commission on alleged irregularities such as unauthorised deductions from retirees’ funds and misuse of the pension fund.
Association Convenor Banwari Lal thanked all participants who travelled from distant districts and appealed to retirees to join every future agitation to safeguard their rights and oppose the management’s “arbitrary approach.” “We are not against dialogue, but we will not compromise on pensioners’ rights. Unity is our strength,” he added.
The dharna concluded with the slogans “Hamari Ekta – Zindabad” and “Hamara Sangharsh – Zindabad,” echoing the Association’s resolve to intensify the movement.
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