ALL INDIA BANK OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION
MIN:RBI:21:2013
March 25, 2013
SRI P CHIDAMBARAM
HON’BLE FINANCE MINISTER
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI
Sir
Reg : SPECIAL DRIVE BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR TAX COLLECTION
THROUGH BANKS.
We have on our hand the circular issued by the controller of the Banking System that in order to comply with directions of the Government of India and some of the State Governments to collect the tax revenues, the last three days of this month have been dedicated to facilitate tax payers to remit the tax dues to the authorities.
In this regard, we would like to submit the following .
1. 1 The Holidays are declared by the State Governments in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India in the beginning of the year under Negotiable Instruments Act.
2. 2. The March 29th and 31st are the important days for the Christian Community as these dates are linked to Good Friday and Easter Days.
3. Banking is the Life Line for the economic activities, the work force belonging to the above community should be exempted to attend the job on these days.
4. 3. Since the collection of tax is a partial assignment involving cash as well as clearing of cheques, the officers who are entrusted with the work are to be granted compensatory off of two days to be availed by them as per their choice without time restriction by the individual banks.
5. 4, Apart from the compensatory off, to meet out the expenses related to travel and other expenses an amount of Rs.2500/- per day to be paid to the officer entrusted to handle the work on these two days as paid by State Bank of India throughout the country.
6. 5, The 30th March 2013, is Saturday and the stipulated working hours are only 4 hours extended working hours for tax collection purpose also be adequately compensated mentioned herein above.
7. 6. An Officer who is entrusted with the special assignment should not also resultantly made to work for 13 days continuously which will be against the laid down law that the Officer is entitled to have one day holiday after six days of work.
While we appreciate the compulsions of the Government equally the interest of the Officers are to be also protected as a responsible Trade Union of Officers.
Please advise all the Banks in this regard at the earlier possible.
Yours faithfully
(S NAGARAJAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
CC:
THE FINANCE SECRETARY, GOI, MOF DFS NEW DELHI
The Chairman, Indian Banks’ Association, Mumbai
The Chairman & Managing Director of All Public Sector Banks
The Chief Executive Officer of All Private Sector Banks
Bankers Do Not Need Rest and Should Forget About Their Families - Banks to open on 29th, 30th and 31st March, 2013
by
Rajesh Goyal 
Thank God, I have taken VRS and can read the news item "Banks told to keep tax collection branchesopen on March 29-31" without fuming about the up setting of my schedule. However, lakhs of my banker colleagues are not that lucky. They must have been upset by this news item. I have full sympathizes for them but can do little except some suggestions for future. However, there are others who can do, but are too indifferent towards the woos of bankers. The worst part is that this is not the first time, but in recent years the frequency is increasing as there is no resistance in banks at any level. It keeps on happening almost on quarterly, half yearly basis on one pretext or the other.
It appears that nobody i.e. Top brass in banking sector, union leaders or top officials in Ministry of Finance, realises that bankers too are human beings and need rest and take care of their families. Some of the bankers who are posted outside, wish to join their families on such holidays. This is the time (month of March) when after completion of their exams, children look towards their father and mother for joining for some outings. Parents look towards their children for accompanying them to some religious places as this season is best suited for old people. However, nobody appears to be thinking on these lines for bankers. I will like the following questions to be answered by these people and offer some suggestions so that it does not happen in future.
(1) Was it not known in advance that we have 29th March 2013 as a holiday in majority of the states in India ? Was it not known that 31st March, 2013 is a Sunday ? Does it require knowledge of "Rocket Science" to figure out in the beginning of the year itself that these would be holidays in banking. Once you are aware that these are going to be holidays, officials of the government could have taken advance steps like the following -
(a) Give Ads in newspapers in beginning of March itself that businessmen and government organisations should plan their tax payments in such a way that they complete the process by the last working day of the respective State. In this age of CBS, a window of "Online Payments" of taxes can always be given to all account holders and tax would have been paid even without opening brick and mortar branches.
(b) The top brass of banks should have taken up with government officials that in case in it will be absolutely necessary to open some of the branches on these holidays, they need to have an advance notice of at least two months so that staff can be informed and can be offered special leave in l February / March months itself. This would have allowed the bankers to plan for their family in much better way. Family would not have cribbed, if this had happened.
(c) Union leaders need to show up their strength on such occasions rather than waste energies in the futile strikes like that happened few weeks back.
I hope, everybody will consider the above options and ensure that this does not happen next time on the pretext of annual financial closures, long holidays / weekends on diwali or other festivals etc. If bankers are given advanced notice and advance leave, their will be less resistance and bankers will be more cooperative. Family members too will be more response and banker will have more peace of mind.
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