On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Federation of Bank of Baroda Officers’ Associations (FBOBOA) has raised serious concerns regarding institutional apathy, breach of confidentiality, and systemic discrimination faced by women officers in the Bank of Baroda. The association has formally communicated these grievances to the Managing Director & CEO of the Bank, Shri Debadatta Chand, demanding immediate corrective action.
Systemic Challenges Faced by Women Officers
In its communication, FBOBOA highlighted the pressing challenges faced by women officers, including:
- Breach of confidentiality and ethical violations
- Lack of institutional support for women facing personal hardships
- Discriminatory transfers despite legitimate grounds for exemption
- Unnecessary delays in executing approved transfers based on medical and spouse joining reasons
The association emphasized that these issues reflect deep-rooted systemic biases that require urgent intervention. It called for action beyond symbolic gestures, urging the bank’s management to take decisive steps to ensure fairness, transparency, and dignity for all women officers.
Breach of Confidentiality and Unethical Targeting (Chennai Zone)
A significant concern raised by FBOBOA pertains to an incident in Chennai Zone, where a woman officer’s medical leave request was deliberately delayed and later marked as Loss of Pay, despite her genuine health concerns. When she sought redressal, not only was her grievance ignored, but her confidential medical details were accessed and publicly circulated by a particular trade union (AIBOBOA).
These details were allegedly disseminated through a public communiqué and amplified via social media platforms, raising serious questions about data privacy, professional integrity, and fundamental human rights.
Shockingly, instead of addressing this clear violation of privacy, the Chennai Zonal Management issued the affected woman officer a Social Media Policy violation notice, effectively penalizing the victim while the individuals responsible for breaching confidentiality remained unpunished.
Neglect of Women Officers Seeking Support (Lucknow Zone)
FBOBOA also cited a distressing case from Lucknow Zone, where a woman officer, who is the sole caregiver for her daughter undergoing psychiatric treatment, her own medical condition, and her elderly father-in-law, had applied for sabbatical leave from January to July 2025.
Despite fulfilling all eligibility criteria and presenting compelling humanitarian grounds, her request remains unapproved. This case, according to the association, highlights the bank’s lack of empathy and its failure to support women officers struggling with professional and personal responsibilities.
Arbitrary Transfers and Gender-Based Discrimination
The association further alleged unfair and discriminatory transfer practices in the recent transfer cycles. Women officers facing legitimate hardships have been transferred to geographically unfeasible locations, whereas leaders of a particular trade union have been given preferential treatment, allowing them to remain in convenient postings despite relocation not being necessary.
This discriminatory practice, where political favoritism supersedes merit and hardship considerations, undermines the very principles of a fair and transparent transfer policy, FBOBOA stated.
Delays in Transfers Due to Medical and Spouse Grounds
Another major issue raised was the inordinate delays in executing approved transfer requests for women officers facing extreme medical conditions or spouse relocation needs.
For instance, in the Bareilly Zone, a woman officer’s transfer request was approved in January 2025, but she is yet to be relieved. Similarly, in the Bangalore Zone, two women officers whose spouse joining transfers were approved in October 2024 are still awaiting their transfers, leading to mental distress and disruption of their family lives.
FBOBOA pointed out that while such genuine cases are delayed indefinitely, preferential transfers for other officers are executed without any hurdles, further exacerbating workplace inequities.
FBOBOA’s Demands and Call for Action
To address these issues, FBOBOA has called upon the bank’s management to take immediate corrective measures, including:
- A formal inquiry into the breach of confidentiality in Chennai Zone and disciplinary action against those responsible.
- Immediate withdrawal of the Social Media Policy violation notice issued to the affected woman officer.
- Transparent and equitable transfer policies, ensuring that women officers facing hardships receive priority consideration.
- Expedited processing of sabbatical leave applications for women officers with caregiving responsibilities or medical issues.
- Implementation of a strict timeline for transfer requests:
- Transfers due to extreme medical conditions should be completed within 30 days.
- Spouse joining transfers should be executed within 45 days, ensuring immediate relieving upon approval.
- Comprehensive gender-sensitive HR policy reforms to create a more structured and empathetic support system for women employees.
Women Officers Demand Equality, Not Favors
FBOBOA made it clear that women officers in Bank of Baroda are not asking for favors; they are demanding what is rightfully theirs—equal opportunity, professional dignity, and institutional support.
Their competence, resilience, and contributions to the bank’s success must be recognized through real policy changes, rather than mere symbolic celebrations on Women’s Day.
The association stated that International Women’s Day should not be reduced to a token event, but rather serve as an opportunity for institutional introspection and concrete action.
Urgent Appeal to Bank Leadership
In its concluding remarks, FBOBOA urged the bank’s top management to act decisively, ensuring that women officers are not hindered but empowered by the system. It reiterated that women’s empowerment must be reflected in workplace policies and practices, not just in corporate messaging.
The association assured women officers that it stands firmly with them in their fight for fairness, dignity, and institutional accountability.
Ajit Jha, General Secretary of FBOBOA, signed off the letter, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to gender justice in the banking sector.
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