RRB Employees Protest in Delhi Demanding Swift Action on 30,000 Vacancies and Pending Demands

On December 19, the All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association (AIRRBEA) voiced its demands at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, urging prompt action on critical issues affecting the 43 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) across India.

Photo: Protest of the All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association (AIRRBEA) in New Delhi

AIRRBEA, a confederation comprising the National Federation of RRB Officers, National Federation of RRB Employees, and National Federation of Retired RRB Staff, represents over 75% of the total RRB workforce, including retirees.

Purposeful Protest
The RRB workforce, through the protest, sought an amicable resolution not just for their interests but also for the welfare of the rural populace. All 43 RRBs actively contribute to Financial Inclusion programs and various Government Sponsored Schemes.

Various Committees set up by the Government of India, the Reserve Bank of India and NABARD highly appreciated the role of RRBs in fulfilling their objectives and they have recommended, amongst others, to form a National Rural Bank.

Photo: Participants of RRB Protest at Jantar Mantar

Key Demands of AIRRBEA
In the above context, the AIRRBEA placed the following major demands to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India:

1. Formation of NRBI with State level RRBs, totally delinked from Sponsor Banks.

2. Proper Manpower Planning - Immediate Revision of Promotion Rules/ Adequate Recruitment to fill more than 30,000 vacant posts - Stop Cross Selling business of Sponsor Banks.

3. Regularisation of Daily Waged/ Part-time/ Casual Workers.

4. Immediate amendment of Service Rules / Leave Rules etc in lines with those in Sponsor Banks.

5. Full Parity of Wage Structure as per NIT Award and orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court - IBA to be allowed to include RRBs for Wage Revision negotiations.

6. Proper and full implementation of Pension Parity with coverage of all left out cases, under RRB PR 2018.

7. Proper implementation of Computer Increment and Compassionate Appointment Scheme with retrospective date.

8. Payment of Gratuity as per Service Rules on calculation taking BP plus DA.

Robust Performance of RRBs
Despite challenges, recent data from NABARD showcases impressive financial performance for RRBs in FY 2022-23, reporting a net profit of approximately Rs 4974 crore. Out of 43 RRBs, 37 operated in profit, collectively crossing the Rs 10 Trillion business mark.

Image: The Profitability of RRBs

Protests Until Demands Met
S. Venkateswar Reddy, Secretary General of AIRRBEA, emphasized the necessity of their agitation program. He stated, “In the last year, discussions yielded no progress. Hence, we launched the agitation program with a Dharna in Delhi and is to be followed by consecutive Dharnas, state headquarters protests on January 9 2023, a day-long strike in February 2024, and a two-day strike in March 2024.”

In a recent push, AIRRBEA demanded urgent recruitment and comprehensive reforms for RRBs facing a critical staffing crisis with 30,000 vacancies. The association remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing these pressing issues until a resolution is achieved.