When the spirit is high, who cares if there is no money!

Atmadip Ray

A year has gone by since state-run banks started offering voluntary retirement schemes (VRSs), which saw overwhelming response from bankers, especially in the officers’ category. But these officers’ relationship with their banks did not end with their opting for a VRS.
A good number of VRS optees are now seen volunteering to help out their fellow staffers in their previous workplaces. And without any remuneration, too!

“There is no question of remuneration. We are not employees of the bank officially. But some of us opted to help out our colleagues with the tremendous work pressure they are facing now, since we retired,” says an ex-banker from Indian Overseas Bank.

Life has become tough for the existing bankers with the unimaginable depletion of their workforce. Workloads have increased manifold as they have to shoulder extra burdens. Some branches, where several top-level officers have been relieved and the much-talked about reallocation not implemented yet, are particularly badly off.

However, the bankers have found a way out by inviting their ex-colleagues in. This is all about good relations with the ex-staffers. All the current bankers have done is make a call to their ex-colleagues, most of whom are only too happy to oblige.

“It’s also a kind of recognition of our sincerity and efforts in serving the bank,” says another VRS optee, of the United Bank of India. He adds, “It also gives us the opportunity to keep ourselves in good shape.”

A senior official in a state-run bank agrees with this: “Yes, we have heard of such cases where ex-employees are in regular touch with the bank, and there is nothing wrong in it as long as the spirit is high.”

Though there is no direct remuneration for them, banks’ recreation clubs are inviting the ex-bankers for short trips, without charging them anything. “We felt proud when we got the invitation,” says an ex-banker.

The VRSs saw a near 11 per cent depletion in the workforce of the banks with around one lakh employees opting for the schemes. This has created a temporary deficit of manpower in 26 of the 27 state-run banks. The total officer strength of 2,38,116 stands depleted by 27 per cent. In the 4,33,666 strong clerical cadre, this figure reads 11 per cent, and in the 1,91,335 strong sub-staff category, 7 per cent.