Government Urged to Pay ₹766 Crore Dues to Cooperative Banks: Aamera

Udaipur, The divisional meeting of employees and officers of Udaipur, Banswara, Dungarpur, and Chittorgarh Central Cooperative Banks was successfully organized under the banner of All Rajasthan Cooperative Bank Employees Union and All Rajasthan Cooperative Bank Officers Association. The meeting, chaired by District President Rajesh Taylor, was held at the Pratapnagar head office auditorium of Udaipur Central Cooperative Bank. A large number of employees, officers, and retired personnel from Central Cooperative Banks and Land Development Banks participated enthusiastically.

The session began with a two-minute silence in tribute to the martyrs of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. District Secretary Prince Gehlot informed that Suraj Bhan Singh Aamera, Provincial General Secretary of All Rajasthan Cooperative Bank Employees Union and All Rajasthan Cooperative Bank Officers Association, National Vice President of All India Cooperative Bank Employees Federation, and Provincial President of Cooperative Credit Societies Employees Union Rajasthan, was the chief guest. He was accorded a grand welcome by district representatives with a traditional turban and garland ceremony. Guests from Apex Bank Union Jaipur and Jaipur CCB were also warmly felicitated.

Addressing the assembly, Suraj Bhan Singh Aamera demanded that the Rajasthan government immediately release ₹766 crore in pending interest payments related to the 2018 and 2019 farm loan waivers. He informed that Udaipur CCB has ₹12 crore pending, Banswara CCB ₹21 crore, Dungarpur CCB ₹7 crore, and Chittorgarh CCB ₹34 crore. Aamera warned that the Central Cooperative Banks' CRAR could fall below the mandated 9% financial benchmark if these payments are not made, weakening their financial position and potentially pushing them into losses. He stressed that timely payment is crucial for disbursing ₹25,000 crore in crop loans to farmers.

Aamera also urged the government, cooperative department, and bank management to ensure DPC promotions are conducted for all pending and current vacancies before proceeding with direct recruitments. He advocated for the merger of all District Central Cooperative Banks into a single State Cooperative Bank under a two-tier cooperative banking system, similar to the "One State One Rural Bank" model.

He emphasized the need for competent MD appointments under the RBI's "Fit and Proper" policy and called for a review of the staff strength, which was last determined in 2010, to match current banking services and automation. Further demands included resolving pending issues of the 16th wage settlement, maintaining JAIBB/CAIIB increments, reinstating the Loan Supervisor post for effective field inspections, implementing a strict transfer policy, and strengthening social security for employees through pension and RGHS medical schemes.

Various representatives, including Prince Gehlot, Ganpat Soni, R.S. Panwar, Vaibhav Gaur, Ramesh Goyal, Madhu Goyal, Lokesh Shrimali, Rahul Saxena, Chayan Dwivedi, Durga Narayan Singh, Omprakash Godara, and Piyush Vishnoi, addressed the meeting, calling for unity and collective efforts for the welfare of cooperative banks and employees.

State representatives from Apex Bank and Jaipur CCB, including Sarvesh Chaudhary, Dilip Singh Jadam, Vinod Meena, Ripusadan Abusaria, Hemant Verma, and Manish Gangwal, also emphasized strengthening cooperation for prosperity through a united cooperative movement.

The session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by District President Rajesh Taylor.