LETTER TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

No. NBOA.MUM/167/2011-12                                       02/03/2012

Hon'ble Directors of Board

for NABARD

Respected Sir,
                                       Request for your kind Intervention

Please refer to our earlier communication dated 19/12/2011 on the captioned subject seeking your valued and kind intervention on certain very important and critical issues prevailing in NABARD.

We express our gratitude and sincere thanks to you that as a consequence of your kind and effective intervention the bank did invited the NBOA, the recognised and representative body of all the officers of NABARD , for discussions on these  issues of great importance on 31/01/2012.

The discussions under reference were held under a congenial environment and during the course of discussions the NBOA has very effectively, rationally and logically put forth its points of view on the business, operational as well as HR parameters of NABARD. The Hon'ble chairman and all the senior executives of NABARD, present at the discussions not only appreciated the concern and suggestions provided by the NBOA but also very kindly agreed to resolve all the issues amicably on the basis of mutual consultation and in true spirit of participatory , transparent and consultative managerial process.

Sir , we were not only thankful to the management for all the assurances given but we were also sure that the issues shall be resolved amicably and a harmonious industrial environment shall return and prevail in the bank and all of us together will take NABARD to greater heights. However, to our utter dismay and anguish we have noted with a rude shock that the bank management has back-tracked on its assurances pertaining to almost all the important issues besieging NABARD as of now.

In the circumstances, NBOA is left with no other option but to once again beseech your kind intervention on the following issues/matters of great concern to NABARD and us-

1. Bank continues to wrap a veil of secrecy around the BCG recommendations, specially those pertaining to the business operations and HR restructuring of NABARD and contradictory to the clear assurance given on 31/01/2012 to NBOA, it is not coming forward to divulge, share, and discuss the BCG recommendations with NBOA.

2. That the Bank in spite of the favourable response shown on 31/01/2012 has decided not to fill up the vacant posts in grades ' B ', 'C' and ' E ' in clear violation of the provisos of NABARD Staff Rules, 1982. Sir, this arbitrary decision of the management will put the career prospect of hundreds of eligible officers into bleak future.

3. The decision of the bank to recruit grade 'B' officers directly from the market is ill-timed and retrograde in nature as it will effectively choke the career prospects of 576 officers in grade 'A', the great majority of whom are in the age group of 28-30 years. Incidentally, 415 of these officers have been directly recruited from the market through rigorous selection process in last 3 years and they are equipped with professional qualifications of high order which are commensurate to the present and future needs of the organisation. They are not merely graduates as has been made out by the bank while preferring excuses for direct recruitment at Grade B level. In addition, to this the remaining officers presently working in grade 'A' are carrying rich experience of almost 10-12 years in the field of development banking. Choking, curtailing and cessation of their career prospects is not only against the tenets of natural justice but it has brew in a large scale discontentment among the rank and file of the present Human resource in the organisation leading to loss in efficacy of operations. As already brought to your kind notice earlier , a similar experiment undertaken by the bank in 1984-87 has created HR problems of inordinate proportions and the bank is even today grappling with them and is in a quest of finding a solution to this vexed issue which is a direct result of its own making way back in 1984-87.

4. Now the bank has come up with a loosely knitted and ambiguous Transfer policy for the year 2012, again without giving any cognizance what so ever to the suggestions of NBOA on the issue. Moreover, the officers, who do not come within the purview of the transfer policy announced by the bank, are also being considered for transfer. It has generated an under current of disbelief, apprehensions and unrest among the officers.

5. In a number of cases, the officers of the Bank are being subjected to uncalled for punishments on flimsy grounds, in clear deviation of the rules as laid down in NABARD Staff Rules, 1982. This has created an atmosphere of fear & uncertainty in the minds of officers including very senior officers who are afraid of putting forth their view points on any matter of the bank's affairs for fear of reprisal. We also apprehend victimisation of office-bearers and other activists of NBOA in some way or the other for raising the legitimate aspirations and grievances of officers’ community on internal forum.
6. The bank continues to function without a CEO in the absence of posting of a Managing Director, and the absence of an ED (HRMD) has further aggravated the problem as the Chairman due to his legitimate pre-occupation with policy issues pertaining to Business operations of the bank has very little time to address the issues arising out of day to day functioning of the bank.

7. As a result of growing disenchantment and resultant frustration among the officers community due to the issues listed above, almost all the officers of NABARD, including senior level officers, proceeded on Mass casual Leave on 28/02/2012.  In order to safeguard the interest of and the Image of  NABARD, per se, NBOA has asked its officers to attend to all field assignments as also essential operations like those pertaining to Funds & accounts , in spite of them being on Mass casual Leave.

In the circumstances, we once again very humbly and earnestly call upon your good-self to use your good offices in getting all the above mentioned issues/area of concern resolved to the legitimate aspirations of 2700 strong officers’ community.

Sir, if you so desire and grant us an audience, as per your convenience, we shall be greatly obliged to present, in person, our view points in details to you.

Thanking You

Yours Sincerely,

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(Dr D S Chauhan)                                            (U K Mohanty)
General Secretary                                             President