Corona pandemic – masses suffer the most: When all of us were
trying to believe that the corona curve was tapering down, and things
were coming to normalcy, the second spell has started and this time, the
spread is very fast. Even during the first spell, we experienced the
inadequacy of the measures from the Government due to which people at
large suffered a lot. Workers, particularly the daily wagers, contract
workers, migrant workers were the worst hit. Many of them lost their jobs
and many of them their livelihood.
About one crore Indian people were
infected by the virus and about 150,000 people lost their lives.
Bank employees were no exception: Bank employees were also
getting infected because they were required to work in the Branches and
coming into physical contact with a lot of customers and banking public.
From AIBEA and UFBU many issues were taken up to protect the bank
employees and number of guidelines, relaxations, financial relief, etc.
were secured from the Government, IBA and individual bank
managements. With all difficulties, bank employees were doing their best
to maintain the banking services.
We lost about 600 colleagues in Wave I: In the process, thousands
of bank employees were affected by the virus. More than 600 bank
employees and officers lost their lives. We are yet to come out of this
tormenting agony, anguish and bitterness of having lost our precious
colleagues. But once again the virus is spreading as a second wave. And,
already daily we are getting disturbing reports, news and information that
more and more bank employees are getting affected by the infection.
The number of people who have been infected and affected this time is
much larger than last spell.
Wave II is worse: What is more agonising is that this time the number
of bank staff who have lost their lives is also much more. Within two
months, we are informed that about 500 bank employees, officers and
even Executives have become unfortunate victims of this menacing virus.
Pathetic condition: To compound the problem, there is all-round
problem for getting admitted in hospitals for want of bed, shortage of
medicine, shortage of oxygen, shortage of ICU wards, shortage of
ventilator provision in hospitals, etc. Our heart goes in pain when some
of our colleagues frantically contact us for getting admission in hospitals,
etc.
Let us do what best we can: We know Government has fallen short on
what they should do, but that is not going to solve the problem now.
What is paramount is how in these challenging times, all our Unions can
help our members who are facing difficulties. We are proud that our
Unions are doing their best in this regard. We must continue this.
IBA: We have already brought these issues to the notice of the IBA and
bank managements many of whom are also sympathetic. We will
continue to take up and pursue these issues with them for relief and
assistance. Few days ago, when we were talking to the Chairman of IBA
on certain issues, he was expressing his serious concern and anxiety
about the plight and circumstances under which bank staff are working
today. His feeling of worry was visible. He assured that whatever is in
the hands of IBA, it would be done.
Bank staff are Covid Warriors: Another challenge which we are facing
is with regard to vaccination of bank employees on a priority. It is a
matter of consolation that recently the Parliamentary Standing Committee
of the Home Ministry has appreciated the services of bank employees
during the pandemic period and have recognized bank staff as Covd19
Warriors. But till now, neither the Home Ministry nor the Finance Ministry
has officially notified to this effect. We wonder why Government is feeling
shy to do so.
Vaccination on priority: Dept. of Financial Services has sent a letter to
the Chief Secretaries of all States on 22-4-2021: “I request you to kindly
consider putting in place a special dispensation in your State/UT, to
enable the aforementioned employees/staff to avail of vaccination easily
and on priority basis”. But our feedback from the field is that no such
priority is in place. It is very important that clear cut directives (not
request) should be issued by the Finance Ministry or Home Ministry or
Health Ministry to treat bank employees on priority for the purpose of
vaccination. This issue brooks no further delay.
Time to be more careful: We get information now and then that some
of our leaders and activists are infected, they have been admitted in
hospital, etc. We have also lost some of our leaders due to this virus
infection. Hence, we request all our functionaries at all levels to be more
cautious in their movements, travel, etc. We should also repeatedly send
appeals to the employees to strictly adhere to safety norms like masking,
sanitising, social distancing, etc. Panic will not help us but caution and
precaution will help a lot.
We have already informed that our campaign programmes like signature
collection in the mass petition, etc. can be put on hold till we reach
normalcy. Let us pass through these trying times. Let us chain ourselves
together to break the chain. Employees and their safety are our
prime concern now.
09/05/2021 07:27 
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