The All-India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) has demanded that the government, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the managements of the banks to immediately arrange for protection of staff following the demonetisation move.

Eknath Baliga, Joint General Secretary of AIBOC and president of Corporation Bank Officers' Organisation, said that the officers and employees don’t mind sacrificing their holidays for facilitating the changeover. “It should be an eye opener for the bank managements, the government and all those at the helm of affairs that banks are the pillars of Indian economy and we are the soldiers guarding these pillars.

“We have made fervent appeal to all our members to ensure smooth transition despite all odds and challenges. We demand from the government, RBI and the bank managements to immediately arrange to provide sufficient currency, other infrastructure and protection to staff so that we can serve the countrymen in a better way,” he said.

The only persons with whom the common man could express the anxiety and anger were hard-pressed bank officers and employees, he added. The rush during last few days was so unmanageable that there was no place for them to even stand in the bank despite rearranged aesthetics as per the perceived requirement.

He said bank branches are facing short supply of currency notes for exchange, despite tall claims by many. ATMs could not be realigned and could not restart in time. Bank branches and employees are subjected to public wrath.

Staff was made hostage in many branches during very late evenings by the people who could not be attended by then. Officers had to face questions and abuses from common man for which there were no ready answers. Many bank branches were working from 10 am till midnight.

Baliga said in a press release here that the bank employees and officers in particular have always been under stress for time in memorial in the process of implementation of government plans and projects.

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