The reason for Anil kumar to take that extreme step is according to various newspaper reports quoting his devastated wife is ubiquitous unbearable work pressure. His wife screaming under agonizing pain, thumping her chest in devastation and extreme shock was seen shouting that her husband has succumbed to unbearable work pressure in the bank. The severity of the shock she has undergone, the mental trauma she has suffered can be gauged from her refusal to believe that her husband is dead.
This Suicide is not an isolated incident in the bank. We are hearing such news from across the country with alarming frequency.
What is the takeaway for the bank as well as for the staff from this from these kind of incidents? He should not have resorted this extreme step no doubt. What thoughts could have passed through his mind just before the suicide? Probably the overwhelmingness of work and no hope of help or guidance would have driven him to this act. Psychologists say that it is invariably the HOPE that keeps a person going. When one does not see hope and the problem is too overwhelming and insurmountable, and there being no help from any quarter a person resorts to this kind of act. Here point to be noted is, it is a single man branch.
There are many such hope less persons/staff in the bank. There may be many Anilkumars in the making. It is high time Bank has to sit up and take notice of the problem.
Single man branch is a bane and a curse in SBI. We serve the multitudes unlike our counterparts in other PSBs or in private banks. We end up in doing mass banking. Added to this is the all pervasive pressure of cross selling which has spread like a cancer. The greed of incentives of cross selling has put enormous pressure on the operatives. This greed has robbed the humane element in all the transactions /interaction of the controllers with the branch level operatives. This greed has made them monstrous and mad. It is time that they realize the harm they are causing to the beleaguered and vulnerable staff.
A SUGGESTION TO RELEASE / FIND SOME TIME FOR THE STAFF:
Close the cash transaction by 2.00pm. When we are moving to alternate channels and digital banking in such a big way, keeping cash counters till 4.30pm is not required. This will release some time for the staff which they can use more gainfully like attending to compliance issues, NPA recovery, scouting new advances etc. I had suggested this long ago in one of my articles in the blog.
APPEAL TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES :
Life is precious, divine and is created by God. No one has any right to cut short it even if it is his own. Please don't do it. If you come to a conclusion that it is difficult to continue anymore in the bank, please leave the bank not this world. If there is no job in SBI that is not the end of the world. There are umpteen number of avenues available elsewhere. Be bold, be realistic, be sensible. You have no right to put your family in destitution for no fault of theirs.
K N Krishnan.
Couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteYes. Life is precious. God given. And even we don't have a right to take it away. One must not leave the family in the lurch.
But, it is the responsibility of the Management firstly to treat its human resources humanely. Be a Model Employer. Unfortunately, exploitation, in the name of competition and in the greed for incentives for cross-selling has become unbearable for most staff. The Public Sector has become much more exploitative than Private Sector. Top Management people must introspect and not commit sin. They must realize that Karma will surely catch up with them.
If the Management does not correct itself, it is the bounden duty of the Officers' Association to drill sense into the Management by talks or by agitation, including Strikes.
After all, we form an Association only to represent and agitate for issues that we cannot fight for individually. The very purpose of forming an Association is defeated if it is only as strong or weak as an Individual Officer.
I have suggested to the Officers' Association to at least create a Helpline and use the services of retired Office Bearers and retired B.S.Faculty like me for the Helpline, till the situation is made ideal, which must be the main goal.
Saving even one life through the Helpline would be worth it. But,the goal must remain preventing of exploitation at all costs.
May the Departed Soul of Anil Kumar achieve Sadgati. 🙏
Praying no more precious lives are lost and none suffers otherwise too.
Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavantu!
Hope good days are ahead.
ReplyDeleteIt's also job of trade unions to safeguard interest of officers guide juniors as parent in work angle and not only involve in internal fight
ReplyDeleteIt's a very sad that we have once again lost one of our good colleagues. The deafening silence that follows such events makes it worse.
ReplyDeleteThe strong need of the hour is to abolish the concept of single officer in branches. Redeploy more hands to branches. Business generating units should be provided with more staff than administrative office. Consolidate branches situated near each other. That itself will release more resources and bring about optimization.
I am willing to offer my time to help out any officer or branch.
Thanks for your time.
ReplyDeleteMay I know who is this?
Anita Sivaram. Mumbai. I have taken vrs after completing 30 years of service for personal reasons as on 30 sept.i am aware that the stress that exists in our industry is unhealthy but it surely can be worked upon if we can open ourselves to workable solutions. Please count me in for any help in this direction.
DeleteSo nice of you to visit my blog mam. Also your offer of assistance. At present we have to do something to alleviate the pressure on colleagues. We have got to put all heads together.
ReplyDeleteIt is really disheartening to know that such incidents are increasing. It's really shocking that this young man took the extreme step to end life. We fail in our responsibility / duty to our family if leave them in lurch like this. Whatever may be the pressure, we have to face it. That's how we learn life's lessons. God tests our ability. We become more strong by boldly facing the problems. What our great management guru Krishna says is that we have to attribute everything to Him & simply do our duty sincerely. The one major thing lacking in our Bank is that these days you have no one to fall back on. Every body ,from top to bottom, is under pressure. No time to councel / guide. It is high time Serious thought should be given by the Management to address this issue before we lose some more precious lifes. Now, The least Bank can do to the bereaved family is to provide solace by at least providing job to the lady on humanitarian ground. All relevant points are rised in your article. Please take Ravindra's suggestion & bring this to the notice of Management & Association. I pray Almighty to bestow enough strength to the bereaved family to overcome the grief & loss.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your time and suggestions. May I know your name.
ReplyDeletegood suggestions like closing the cash counter at 2 pm
DeleteThanks for your time and suggestions. May I know your name.
ReplyDeleteSingle man branch is the most unscientific theme. The lone branch manager is left to fend for himself and obey the orders of the higher authorities (administrative head) and has to fulful the customers wishes also. No time to look at his personal things, His natural calls are delayed, and he will not be able to maintain his normal health
ReplyDelete