The All India Punjab & Sind Bank Officers’ Federation (AIPSBOF) has strongly opposed the recent transfer of officers in the Chennai and Vijayawada Zones. In a letter to the Field General Manager of Punjab & Sind Bank, the federation said that these transfers are unfair and causing problems for employees.
What is the Issue?
The federation claims that since June 2024, officers from Chennai and Vijayawada have been unfairly transferred. Many officers are being forced to take leave for months because of these decisions, which are hurting their morale and affecting work at the bank.
AIPSBOF says that while other regions have seen some flexibility in transfers, officers in Chennai and Vijayawada have been constantly targeted. The federation is particularly unhappy about the fact that these transfers happened in the fourth quarter of the financial year, when the bank needs to focus on business growth.
Staff Shortages & Work Pressure
The protest also highlights a serious staff shortage in these zones:
- Chennai has 4 branches and Vijayawada has 6 branches, but most of them are led by junior officers, which is affecting leadership.
- Some branches are operating with only two officers, leading to excessive workload and poor customer service.
- Instead of transferring officers from nearby areas, the bank is moving officers who do not speak Hindi into Hindi-speaking regions, which is making communication difficult.
The federation says this goes against the DFS guidelines issued on November 26, 2024, which state that officers should not be transferred beyond their linguistic regions to ensure better service.
What Actions Are Being Taken?
In response to these unfair transfers, AIPSBOF has announced a protest across the country. The federation has planned the following steps:
- Officers will wear black badges to show their protest.
- Demonstrations will be held at zonal offices to demand justice.
- Complaints will be taken to higher authorities and Labour Commissioners.
AIPSBOF has also written to the General Manager (HRD) and the Executive Director (HRD) of Punjab & Sind Bank in New Delhi, asking them to review the transfer orders and take fair action.
The officers’ federation is waiting for a response from the bank’s management. They are hoping for a fair transfer policy that does not target specific zones or employees. If the issue is not resolved, the protests may continue.
It is a good move by the Bank. Anyone who has ever worked in Southern parts knows how Hindi speakers are treated by their colleagues. This so called Union is making it an issue because the office bearers will be locals and the people who were enjoying posting in their home states are finally going to find how it feels to be discriminated based on the language you speak. I hope that they learn that how difficult it is for a person to work in another state.