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Young UCO Bank Officer Commits Suicide in Chennai: Yet Another Victim of Work Related Issues?
Tragic suicide of a UCO branch manager in Chennai, sparks debate around work pressure. All India Federation of UCO Bank Officers writes to authorities seeking urgent reforms.
Author: Abhivad
Published: February 19, 2024
Suryanarayan(29), the Branch Manager of UCO Bank's Oragadam Branch in Chennai Zone, tragically took his own life on the morning of 17 February. He was survived by wife and one year old daughter. Sources within the banking community in Chennai reveal that Suryanarayan was grappling with intense pressure related to a gold-loan fraud that transpired within his branch.
The All India Federation of UCO Bank Officers(AIFUCBO), affiliated with the National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO), has addressed concerns regarding work-life balance in connection with the branch manager's demise. In a letter to the MD and CEO of UCO Bank in Kolkata, they highlighted the distressing incident and underscored systemic issues affecting employees' well-being.
(The letter from AIFUCBO to the MD & CEO of UCO Bank.)
The letter encapsulates the anguish within the UCO Bank community, condemning the lack of empathy from the Zonal Office towards the bereaved family and criticising the insensitivity displayed towards employees. It references a broader concern regarding the treatment of staff by the Chennai Zonal Office and calls for urgent reforms to prevent further tragedies.
Speaking to Kanal, Senthil Kumar, General Secretary of Association of UCO Bank Officers Tamil Nadu(affiliated to AIFUCBO), highlighted the toxic work environment as a reason for increased number of suicides among bankers. “The disregard for work-life balance, late-hour meetings and excessive workloads deter bankers from a healthy lifestyle. The zonal management and higher officials put pressure on officers to attend late night meetings and to achieve huge targets. This destabilised the mental health of young bankers”, he said. He added that immediate intervention to enforce policies promoting work-life balance, restricting after-hours meetings, and ensuring humane treatment of employees is required in this regard.
In their letter, AIFUCBO demands comprehensive reforms within UCO Bank to address systemic issues affecting employee welfare and prevent further tragedies. As investigations into the circumstances surrounding Suryanarayan's death continue, the banking community mourns the loss of a dedicated colleague while calling for decisive action to safeguard the well-being of bank employees nationwide.
Recently, an officer of Union Bank died by suicide in Junagarh of Gujarat, resurfacing debate around the toxic work culture in the banking sector. In a similar instance, an employee of Bank of Baroda in Andhra Pradesh had also ended his life in November 2023.