Protect bankers to ensure uninterrupted banking, DFS secretary tells states

Financial services secretary M Nagaraju has written a letter to the chief secretary of all state governments urging them to deal firmly and promptly, and with deterrent legal measures, to protect bank staff and ensure uninterrupted public access to banking.

Nagaraju in his letter said that securing the availability of banking services to the public at all times is essential to enable households to meet their daily financial needs, access government welfare benefits through Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) and for traders, micro-entrepreneurs, farmers and industries to carry on their economic activities without disruption.

"News reports and social media coverage in the recent past highlighted disturbing incidents of anti-social elements behaving aggressively with bank staff within bank premises, which includes verbal abuse, physical assault and even disruption of operations," he noted adding that these are the unlawful actions which discourage the morale of bank staff and undermine public trust in the safe delivery of banking services.

"Such actions must be dealt with firmly and promptly, with deterrent legal measures to protect bank staff and ensure uninterrupted public access to banking," he said.

The financial services secretary further requested state governments to issue suitable advisories to sensitize and instruct district Magistrates and the State Police to take all preventive measures to avoid such incidents in bank branches including deployment of local police/ patrolling during peak banking hours at vulnerable locations.

"Ensure prompt and effective response to such complaints by the designated law enforcement agencies and take strong and deterrent action against perpetrators under relevant provisions," he said in his letter.

The financial services secretary noted that these measures will enhance public trust, provide a secured environment for bank employees and facilitates the effective delivery of banking services.