Pune: The Officers’ Association of the Bank of Baroda has strongly protested against a recent directive issued by the Amravati Regional HR Department. The directive required branch heads to attend a late-night meeting on March 10, 2025, at the Amravati Regional Office and then travel back to their branches at night.
This order has sparked outrage among bank officers, as it has already led to a serious accident. The branch heads of Taroda Naka, Anand Nagar, and CIDCO Nanded branches met with an accident while returning from the meeting, leaving one officer seriously injured.
Risky Travel After Late-Night Meetings
The officers are especially angered by an official instruction that stated:
“All Branch Heads are requested to make arrangements for return journeys after 9 PM on the day of the meeting to ensure the smooth functioning of branches the next day.”
Many officers argue that this is an unreasonable and inhumane demand. The Amravati Region covers large areas, including Nanded, which is 270 km away, and other branches located over 300 km from Amravati city. Traveling such long distances at night after an exhausting meeting puts officers’ lives at risk.
The officers believe that the decision was taken without considering their safety. They pointed out that if cost and time were the main concerns, the meeting could have been held at a more central location, such as Parbhani or Nanded. However, the regional executives refused to make any adjustments, forcing officers to undertake dangerous journeys instead.
Negligence by the Regional HR Department
The Officers’ Association has accused the Regional HR Department of negligence. Instead of ensuring employee safety, they believe the department is making decisions based on cost-cutting and administrative convenience.
“Any responsible administration would have foreseen the risks of such a directive. Forcing employees into dangerous travel conditions is not just negligence—it is a complete failure of moral and administrative responsibility,” the association stated.
Demands for Action
The Officers’ Association has made three immediate demands to address this issue:
- Full Investigation: A proper inquiry into the matter to ensure accountability and prevent such orders in the future.
- Safety Protocols: Implementation of strict rules to make sure that official meetings do not compromise employee safety.
- Decentralized Meetings: Future regional meetings should be held in locations that reduce unnecessary travel risks for officers from distant branches.
The officers have made it clear that they will not accept such reckless decisions that put their lives in danger.
Response Awaited
The association is now waiting for an official response from the Bank of Baroda’s senior management. They have warned that if no corrective action is taken, they will escalate their protest.
Key Figures Behind the Protest
The protest is being led by key members of the BOBOA Pune Zone, including:
- Chairman: Vivek Korad
- President: Sachin Sahare
- Vice Presidents: Ms. Shweta Bansude, Mr. Bhaskar Mahsade
- General Secretary: Mahadev Farande
- Deputy General Secretaries: Jagannath Lotke, Sumanto Sharan
- Admin Secretary: Dinesh Patil
- Treasurer: Nitin Burade
- Assistant Treasurer: Rohit Nirawane
For any further communication, the association has provided their official email: boboapunezone@gmail.com.
