Villagers Protest Proposed Shift of Chhattisgarh State Rural Bank Branch
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There are growing concerns among the villagers, account holders, and local traders regarding the planned move of the Chhattisgarh State Rural Bank branch. The bank, which has been serving the Lakhanpuri Gram Panchayat for many years, is set to be relocated to the nearby Gram Panchayat of Kanapond. This change has sparked anger and frustration in the community.
Many locals are planning to file complaints with the Regional Office in Dhamtari, the State Office in Raipur, the Collector, and Sushasan Tihar (a local administration initiative). The primary reason for the protest is that this is the only branch of the Gramin Bank in the area, and its relocation will cause significant inconvenience to the people who rely on it for their daily banking needs.
Lakhanpuri is well-known for hosting the largest weekly market in the region every Saturday. Hundreds of villagers from nearby areas visit this market to shop, and many also conduct banking transactions at the bank. Students from nearby schools, including secondary and higher secondary schools, regularly withdraw their scholarship amounts from this branch. Women from self-help groups in nearby villages also use the bank to handle their financial transactions.
If the bank is moved to Kanapond, all of these groups will face difficulties. Currently, the bank’s location in the heart of Lakhanpuri is easily accessible for everyone, including people traveling from outside the village. It is convenient for both everyday customers and local traders to reach the bank without any hassle.
On the other hand, if the bank is shifted to Kanapond, people say that they will have to travel over one and a half kilometers to reach the new location. Moreover, there are no available auto-rickshaws or other local transport options to get there, which will make the journey even more challenging.
As a result, the residents and traders of Lakhanpuri have submitted a memorandum to the District Administration, the Sushasan Tihar Camp, and both the Regional and State Offices of the Bank. In the memorandum, they have requested that the bank not be moved and remain in its current location to avoid causing hardship to the community.
This situation highlights the importance of accessible local banking services for rural areas and the significant impact such a move can have on the daily lives of residents.
