RRB employees' strike from Monday

Urging the Union Government not to privatise regional rural banks (RRBs), and to fulfill the other demands of the employees of RRBs, United Forum of RRB Unions has given a call for a three-day nation-wide strike by RRB employees from March 26 to 28.

All-Karnataka Gramin Bank Employees' Federation general secretary V K Bannigol told media persons here on Saturday that more than 1,680 employees of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank, Pragati Krishna Grameena Bank, and Cauvery Grameena Bank in the State would take part in the stir.

Privatisation of RRBs is against the very purpose of formation of RRBs. As many as 56 RRBs in the country are offering service to more than 30 crore customers in 676 districts, especially in rural areas and to the farming sector. They are also extending help to create jobs in rural areas, and are giving financial help to the farmers, artisans and vendors. The RRBs are also paying Rs 10,000 crore tax amount every year to the Union Government, he said.

Equality in salary, appointment on compassionate grounds, simplification of service and promotion rules, and regularisation of the services of daily wage workers would be other major demands, Mr Bannigol said.

S N Savadatti, R V Pattar, G M Vaidya, and others were present.