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Utkal Grameen Bank Staff Crisis: 33% Staff Shortfall in Branches Amid Surging Business and Profit
Utkal Grameen Bank faces a 33% staff shortfall. Profit surged to ₹136.76 Cr, business up by 39.7%, yet massive work pressure strains rural bankers.
Author: Saurav Kumar
Published: April 3, 2025
Amid the ongoing standoff between Utkal Grameen Bank (UGB) management and AIRRBEA-affiliated unions, branch operations are running under immense pressure due to a severe staff shortage. Official data reveals that the bank is facing a 33% shortfall in required staff, raising concerns about sustainability despite its financial turnaround.
Persistent Staff Shortage Across Branches
Utkal Grameen Bank has been grappling with a significant staff deficit, as highlighted in official reports. Across 433 branches, the bank currently operates with 1,295 employees, while the required strength for smooth branch operations is 1,927.
This points to a staggering shortage of 632 employees, which stands in sharp contrast to the bank’s strong financial performance in recent years.
Staff Crisis Amid Business and Profit Surge
Despite Utkal Grameen Bank’s strong financial turnaround, its staff shortage remains unaddressed. The bank’s profit surged from a ₹411.63 crore loss in FY21 to ₹136.76 crore in FY24, while business grew by ₹3,949.04 crore (39.7%) over five years. Business per branch saw a 40.4% rise, with the sharpest jump in FY24.
Source: Utkal Grameen Bank Annual report FY 2023-24
Clerical Staff Deficit
The most affected category in this workforce crisis is the Customer Service Associates (CSA), formerly known as clerical staff. As per the S.K. Mitra Committee recommendations, UGB should have 801 CSAs, but the current strength stands at just 611, leaving a gap of 190 CSAs.
Hundreds of Branches Struggling with Only Two Staff Members
A Utkal Grameen Bank employee, speaking to Kanal, revealed the gravity of the staffing crisis, “In 250 branches across 8 regions, only two employees are managing all operations. Despite remarkable growth in business, profits, and business per branch over the past financial years, the rising workload due to staff shortages is becoming unbearable.”
He further emphasized that the S.K. Mitra Committee's staffing requirements are far from being met, and that no substantial recruitment has taken place in the last 5-6 years.
The crisis at Utkal Grameen Bank is not an isolated issue but a reflection of a broader staffing problem across RRBs. Addressing this issue through immediate and adequate recruitment is essential to ensure the stability of UGB and other RRBs, ultimately securing the future of rural banking in India.
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