Rajasthan Gramin Bank Staff Face Final Day Crunch as Half-Year Closing Deadline Looms

Image: Official Directive of Rajasthan Gramin Bank to work during weekend and festive vacation

Official Directive Amid Festival Season

In a circular dated September 26, 2025, the bank’s regional management has directed all branches to remain operational during the Navratri festival weekend. The directive states, “The ongoing Navratri festive season presents us with immense potential for business generation across all segments... it is imperative that we align our operational strategy with customer expectations and market demand.”

The management has specifically instructed that “your branch is located at Block Head Quarter should utilize the coming weekend/vacation i.e. 27th, 28th & 30th September 2025 to encash the opportunity and generate maximum business.”

This directive effectively cancels the weekend rest for employees during one of the most significant festive vacations, enforcing work under the guise of capitalising on festival-related banking demand.

Weekend Recovery and Staff Shortage

A comprehensive duty roster accessed by Kanal reveals extensive field assignments for bank staff across 43 branches during September 26-29, 2025. The schedule shows employees deployed for recovery operations across multiple locations including Shyampura, Bonli, Kotyat, Gangapur City, Khandar, Bhadoti, Khandeep, and Mehandipur Balaji.

The roster indicates intensive field recovery duties spanning four consecutive days, with staff members assigned to work in pairs across different locations. This systematic deployment demonstrates the bank’s prioritisation of business targets over employee welfare during the festival period.

Speaking to Kanal on condition of anonymity, an employee revealed the ground reality behind these weekend directives. “While there is no explicit target pressure related to half-yearly closing, the severe staff shortage has left us with no choice but to work during weekends for recovery and business mobilisation,” the employee explained.

The timing of these work assignments has compounded the difficulty for employees. “The half-yearly closing period unfortunately coincides with the Navratri vacation, which means we are being forced to sacrifice our festival time with family when we should be celebrating,” the employee added, highlighting the personal toll of the bank's operational decisions.

According to recent IBPS manpower data, Rajasthan Gramin Bank has 1725 vacant posts for Office Assistants, the highest among all the RRBs. 

The overlap of festival season, weekend duties, and half-year closing has laid bare the strain of staff shortages at Rajasthan Gramin Bank. The situation mirrors the wider challenges confronting Regional Rural Banks and the rural banking system as a whole.