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Utkal Grameen Bank SC-ST Employees Welfare Council Allege Misconduct by Regional Manager, Demands Action
The SC-ST Employees Welfare Council claims that misbehaviour reflects a pattern of discriminatory actions against employees from marginalised communities, further stating that Regional Manager’s actions violate the Prevention of Atrocities Act, 2015, which criminalises actions that promote ill-will against SC-ST individuals.
Author: Saurav Kumar
Published: September 2, 2024
In a serious development at Utkal Grameen Bank (UGB), the SC-ST Employees Welfare Council has demanded the immediate removal of Mr. Saroj Kumar Nahak, Regional Manager of Phulbani Region, over allegations of misconduct and harassment towards employees, particularly targeting SC-ST employees. The complaint, led by General Secretary Paul Alex Ekka, highlights multiple incidents of inappropriate behaviour, with the most recent involving the harassment of Ms. Suchismita Behera, Branch Manager at Sorda.
Image: Complaint against misconduct of Regional Manager
Calls for Action Against Repeated Offence
The letter dated August 28 sent to the Chairman of UGB, details Nahak’s repeated instances of verbal abuse and discrimination. Ms. Behera had applied for casual leave according to the service regulations of the bank but was met with undue harassment and rude treatment from Nahak. The SC-ST Employees Welfare Council claims that this behaviour reflects a pattern of discriminatory actions against employees from marginalised communities, further stating that Nahak’s actions violate the Prevention of Atrocities Act, 2015, which criminalises actions that promote ill-will against SC-ST individuals.
In addition to the specific case of Ms. Behera, the council also accused Nahak of making all branch managers under his jurisdiction stay late unnecessarily and subjecting them to undue pressure. This has led to a growing sense of resentment among the employees, who feel their rights and dignity are being consistently violated under his leadership.
The letter further states that despite raising concerns during a structure meeting in October 2023, no substantial actions have been taken against Nahak, which has only emboldened his inappropriate behaviour. The council has reiterated its call for the bank management to take swift and decisive action to remove Nahak from his position to restore a respectful and conducive working environment for all employees.
Controversies Surrounding Regional Managers
Controversies have continued to cloud the role of Regional Managers at UGB. In July, a disturbing incident occurred in the Berhampur region where a branch manager was reportedly assaulted by a Regional Manager, raising widespread alarm among the bank’s workforce. Around the same time, another serious allegation surfaced, with a woman employee accusing a senior official of harassment.
Moreover, Regional Managers at UGB have been criticised for pressuring employees and officials to aggressively promote and cross-sell SBI third-party products (TPPs). This undue pressure has further exacerbated tensions within the bank, leading to growing discontent among staff members.