Utkal Grameen Bank Staff Resigns From Service Citing Discrimination and Harassment

The resignation comes after the recent directive of India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharama to RRBs to reduce high attrition rates.

Image: Letter of the Branch Manager on UGB Staff resignation

Alleged Unfair Treatment  

The resignation letter of the UGB staff cited discrimination by the senior officials. The letter said, “I regret to inform you that the reason for my resignation is the continuous and unfair treatment I have experienced during my time at the bank. Whenever I applied for leave, the higher authority declined my application and in December 2023, I applied PL for 12 days but the Regional Office approved only one day leave.”

 Image: Letter of Resignation of the UGB Staff

Target Pressure in UGB

In the wake of such a resignation, Utkal Grameen Bank (UGB) is grappling with intense pressure related to cross-selling products from its sponsor bank. An employee, speaking anonymously to Kanal, revealed, “The working environment at UGB is rapidly deteriorating due to mounting demands to work beyond capacity and outside official hours. The resignation of the office assistant reflects the Chairman's coercive efforts to transform a rural bank into a Nationalised Commercial Bank.”

Controversies Surrounding Utkal Grameen Bank

UGB has been embroiled in ongoing controversies, with escalating work pressure and a disrupted work-life balance causing distress among its employees. The actions of Regional Managers have particularly drawn ire, as their pressure tactics have sown discontent across the workforce.

In July, a troubling incident in the Berhampur region saw a branch manager allegedly assaulted by a Regional Manager, sparking widespread concern among bank employees. Additionally, a female employee accused a senior official of harassment, adding to the bank’s growing list of internal issues.

Furthermore, UGB’s Regional Managers have faced criticism for pushing staff to aggressively promote and cross-sell SBI third-party products (TPPs). This undue pressure has only deepened tensions within the bank, contributing to growing dissatisfaction among employees, with recent resignations serving as a clear example of the unrest.