Indus Valley Times

Dr Sarbeswar Mohapatra.

Warriors of Covid-19 pandemic are doctors, nurses, paramedics, police personnel and the Safai Karmacharis or sanitation workers. They   are doing a yeoman’s job in fighting Corona Virus and saving human lives. Sleepless nights, away from near and dear ones and skipping lunch and dinner are common and they have gladly accepted this for the grater cause of humanity. One must salute these heroes and support them whole heartedly.

It is an irony that, a group of silent heroes is not at all recognized, respected or quoted anywhere by anyone. Their unstinted and fearless service to the general public, despite being untrained in fighting Covid-19 or, for that matter, any pandemic or epidemic goes unnoticed. Every aspect of Economic Activities passes through their hands without being appreciated. Irrespective of caste, creed, colour and class, they continue helping and serving the masses with a smile, but, at a high risk to their own lives and  the lives of their family Members. They are the Bankers and the Banking community at large.

India went through the process of Demonetization since the 8^th November 2016. Its effects are still alive in the minds of the  masses. The pitiable plight of the Bankers was then immeasurable. They continued tirelessly exchanging  huge demonetized currencies with fresh  ones. This stupendous work continued till the end of that Financial year.  Bankers skipped their meals and slept on the floors of the Branch buildings overnight. Due to heavy strain, some bankers seemingly died. Unfortunately, Post demonetization effects on Bankers’ health on account of Hypertension ,Cardiac problem , Diabetics  and various other ailments were enormous.   That apart, Bankers became victims of ill-treatment by the   Govt. and its Agencies and also the  public at in general for no fault of Theirs. Stone pelting, thrashing, rebuking and threatening to a large extent had been swallowed  by  the Bankers.

 A plethora of Financial benefits, encapsulated in the “Economic Package” announced by the Hon’ble Finance Minister of India few months ago through a series of Press Publicity over Five Days, aimed at  nullifying the negative effects of Covid-19  on the Economic Activities covering manufacturing, MSME, Agriculture,  Trade and commerce, Retailers, Small Vendors etc. would be doled out and implemented only through the  Banking Channel.

For every Economic activity, money is the basic mode and the Prime system to channelize it to the masses is the Banks and the Bankers.  They are the couriers who constitute the Backbone of Economic Development. No matter, how difficult it be, the currency is delivered in the nook and corner of the Country by these sincere and duty bound group of people. A Democratic Government, being of the people, by the people and for the people, introduces various Citizen-friendly Welfare Schemes. But, the ultimate role in reaching the benefits to the end-users  is vested with the  Bankers, who are forced to implement the schemes and deliver Money directly or through Bank Accounts. Opening a whooping number of  400 million Jandhan( No Frill) Accounts in a short span was an epitome of  Excellence. This feat is an all-time World record, set by Bankers in India, which unfortunately went unrecognized and unrewarded.

Due to increasing footfalls in “Brick and Mortar‘ Banking  outlets,  vulnerability of the Bankers to the Covid-19 pandemic is enormous. They have no mechanism to detect the carriers of the Virus from among the mammoth clientele. Besides, the seat-tight  nature of their job from the  entry time to  the exit time enhances the possibility of contaminating the Corona Virus, which will easily spread its wings rendering innocent lives  as its easy prey.

On the other hand, we Indians have a biased psychology that Banking is a white-collar job and a Banker’s salary is high, which is  simply a myth in the present scenario. Public Sector Bankers are the lowest paid  in comparison to their counterparts in other Public Sector Enterprises. In service, they live in debt and retire in debt even after repaying a large chunk of their superannuation benefits towards various loans availed by them. The paltry pension forces them to lean upon the residual terminal benefits for the day-to-day consumption and to meet the post-retirement health-related problems. Life does not show roses unless financial support from children exists.

The pangs of these well-behaved, untrained in Health hazards and customer-centric bunch of service providers to the public at large, at this moment of crisis, are imaginable.  It is startling that neither the Government, the Development Agencies, the Departments managing  the Disaster, the well-articulate and independent Media Houses have, so far, have not spoken a  word of appreciation in favour of these silent warriors of Covid-19, either in print or audio-visual text. Lo and behold, who does extend support, encourage, pat, recognize and reward these unsung warriors of this pandemic !!!

While government has insured the lives of all the warriors of Covid-19 for Rs 50 lakh each, nothing exists for the bankers. The banks’ own Group Insurance Scheme, on this occasion is just peanuts. In the event of casualty, employment at least to one dependant is not even available for bankers.  The idiom “Service to mankind is service to God” has been religiously followed and practiced by the Bankers. Is it prudent at this critical stage of pandemic to relegate the fate and plight of Bankers , the unsung heroes,  to  the back- burner?

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