After giving men a run for their money in the information technology industry, women are now storming another male bastion – the public sector banks.
Over 40 per cent of applicants for bank jobs this year are women, according to data available with the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, the nodal agency which runs the entrance exams.
Till recently, this percentage was between 15-20 per cent.
The institute has so far received nearly 60 lakh applications for the common written examination for the posts of officers and clerks in 19 public sector banks.
“The ratio of men and women applicants for these posts is 60:40 and the numbers speak for themselves,'' Mr M. Balachandran, Director of the institute, told Business Line .
Indian banks at present employ around 7 lakh people.
The data also reveal some interesting facets of demography. In places where more employment opportunities are available in sectors such as IT, there are comparatively fewer women applicants.
“For instance, in cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, where the IT industry is well-established, there are fewer women candidates compared to other cities,'' Mr Balachandran said.
NO DISCRIMINATION
Why this sudden enthusiasm among women to make a mark in banking? Does this signal a change?
The answers are varied.
When contacted, Mr Pratip Choudhuri, Chairman, State Bank of India, said: “I don't see any scope for discrimination against women in banks – neither in the past nor in future.'' In the State Bank of India, women account for 15-20 per cent of the over two lakh employees, he added.
The challenging nature of the financial sector and the sense of job security in the current economic scenario are driving women to look for bank jobs, said Ms Nupur Mitra, Chairman and Managing Director, Dena Bank.
“I think it is vital for banks to provide additional facilities and flexibility to women employees at the time of pregnancy and initial years of child-rearing. Many competent women do face a big career dilemma at this time,'' she said.
The contribution of women in IT and some private banks such as ICICI Bank is higher because they extend lot of benefits compared to public sector banks, feel experts.