by

Rajesh Goyal 

Thank God, I have taken VRS and can read the news item "Banks told to keep tax collection branches open on March 29-31"  without fuming about the up setting of my schedule.   However, lakhs of my banker colleagues are not that lucky.    They must have been upset by this news item.   I have full sympathizes for them but can do little except some suggestions for future.   However, there are others who can do, but are too indifferent towards the woos of bankers.   The worst part is that this is not the first time, but in recent years the frequency is increasing as there is no resistance in banks at any level.   It keeps on happening almost on quarterly, half yearly basis on one pretext or the other.

It appears that nobody i.e. Top brass in banking sector, union leaders or top officials in Ministry of Finance, realises that bankers too are human beings and need rest and take care of their families.  Some of the bankers who are posted outside, wish to join their families on such holidays.    This is the time (month of March)  when after completion of their exams, children look towards their father and mother for joining for some outings.   Parents look towards their children for accompanying them to some religious places as this season is best suited for old people.   However, nobody appears to be thinking on these lines for bankers.    I will like the following questions to be answered by these people and offer some suggestions so that it does not happen in future.

(1)   Was it not known in advance that we have 29th March 2013 as a holiday in majority of the states in India ?  Was it not known that 31st March, 2013  is a Sunday ?  Does it require knowledge of "Rocket Science" to figure out in the beginning of the year itself that these would be holidays in banking.   Once you are aware that these are going to be holidays,  officials of the government could have taken  advance steps like the following -

   (a) Give Ads in newspapers in beginning of March itself that businessmen and government organisations should plan their tax payments in such a way that they complete the process by the last working day of the respective State.    In this age of CBS,  a window of "Online Payments" of taxes can always be given to all account holders and tax would have been paid even without opening brick and mortar branches.  

  (b) The top brass of banks should have taken up with government officials that in case in it will be absolutely necessary to open some of the branches on these holidays,  they need  to have an advance notice of at least two months so that staff can be informed and can be offered special leave in l February / March months itself.    This would have allowed the bankers to plan for their family in much better way.   Family would not have cribbed, if this had happened.

  (c) Union leaders need to show up their strength on such occasions rather than waste energies in the futile strikes like that happened few weeks back.

I hope, everybody will consider the above options and ensure that this does not happen next time on the pretext of annual financial closures, long holidays / weekends on diwali or other festivals etc.  If bankers are given advanced notice and advance leave, their will be less resistance and bankers will be more cooperative.   Family members too will be more response and banker will have more peace of mind.