Two-day stir hits banking transactions worth ₹5k cr

PATNA: The two-day nationwide strike called by the joint forum of the central trade unions to protest various government policies affected banking, postal and insurance services in Bihar on the second and last day on Tuesday.

Holding banners and placards, the protesters demanded rollback of privatisation of public sector banks, scrapping of the labour codes, repeal of national monetisation pipeline (NMP) and other “anti-labour” policies of government.

A protest march was taken out from

Maurya Lok

to Dak Bungalow Crossing and

Beerchand Patel Path

under the banner of Bank Employees’ Federation of India (BEFI) and All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA). An AIBEA member said apart from public sector, regional and gramin banks, private banks also joined the protests on the second day. The SBI branches remained shut in the state, including the main branches in Gaya and Katihar.

State BEFI president

B Prasad

said nearly 40,000 employees and officers joined the protest, which affected transactions worth at least Rs 5,000 crore at 4,800 bank branches in the state. “Several ATMs ran out cash as the banks remained shut for the fourth consecutive day, including Saturday and Sunday,” Prasad added.

Residents of the state capital faced troubles as most ATM kiosks had their shutters down on Tuesday. People could be seen returning empty-handed from ATM kiosks.

Rachna Kumari

, a resident of Ashiana Colony, said she got cash after visiting five different ATMs. “Many ATMs near my house remained shut. I had to go to Bailey Road to withdraw cash,” she said.

Asha workers, anganwadi workers, midday meal workers, INTUC, UTUC, All India

Kisan Sabha

and other labour organisations also participated in the agitation.