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While bank managements proudly announce the opening of branches in rural areas, the staff moved to such locations often consider it a ‘punishment’ posting.
When Business Line published a series of articles on HR challenges in banks recently, a 22-year-old engineering graduate who had joined the banking industry a few months ago had commented in our Web site that young people serving in rural areas are deprived of amenities such as proper cell phone signals, choice of food and weekend entertainment.
“The concern is genuine, for most of the candidates who join a bank are from urban areas. They may, therefore, not be mentally prepared to take up an assignment in a rural branch. It can be sorted out though,” says C. H. Venkatachalam, General-Secretary, All-India Bank Employees’ Association.
So, what ails the workforce?
“The work environment,” said an officer of a public sector bank. The lady, who was sharing her experience of working in a rural branch, said: “It is a lot different from the work we do in an urban branch. While the work keeps one engaged, it is not always easy to stay away from the family for weeks or months together.
“I was fortunate enough to be posted in a branch which was just three-four hours away from my home in Coimbatore. Imagine my plight if I was posted in some other State or in the North,” she said, heaving a sigh of relief, not just over being posted nearer home, but in successfully completing her term in the rural branch.
N. K. Thingalaya, a noted rural banker, says that rural India of today is not like 20 years back.
Infrastructure development has taken place in many areas. And said he was surprised to see extent of mobile phone penetration during a recent visit to a village in Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh.
Young bankers can probably look forward to more positive changes soon. A recent report by Crisil points out that last year consumption expenditure in rural areas exceeded that of the urban .
Perhaps, that is reason for hope.
> revathy.lakshminarasimhan@thehindu.co.in
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