Title: Demand to implement National Industrial Tribunal Award extended to nationalised banks be extended to the employees of Regional Rural Banks.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Sir, I wish to draw the attention of the hon. Finance
Minister to an important issue. Thousands of employees of the Regional Rural
Banks have come from various parts of the country and are on march to
Parliament today. They are all in front of Parliament demanding
implementation of the National Industrial Tribunal Award. Even the Supreme
Court had also given a direction to implement this Award. The hon. Finance
Minister is aware of this. During the regime of Shri Chandra Shekhar’s
Government, he was also the Finance Minister. At that time he implemented
that Award. After that, nobody had taken that action.
There are 196 Regional Rural Banks with a network of 15,000 branches in the whole country. These banks are serving a lot to the rural people particularly small and marginal artisans. This issue may be settled immediately. Otherwise, our economy will be disturbed and the poor people would suffer. I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Finance Minister to this issue and request him to make a statement on this issue in this Session itself.
“>SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Sir, thousands of employees of the Regional Rural Banks have come to Delhi and are holding dharna at Jantar Mantar. They are demanding the implementation of the sixth bipartite agreement. It was implemented in respect of the nationalised banks but it was not extended to the Regional Rural Banks.
Sir, the National Industrial Tribunal has given an Award that the pay-scales of the employees of the Regional Rural Banks should be at par with the employees of the nationalised banks. Sir, although this bipartite agreement was there three years back, it has not yet been implemented in respect of the employees of the Regional Rural Banks.
Sir, I demand that the Government should take immediate steps to implement the sixth bipartite agreement in regard to the revision of the pay-scales of the Regional Rural Bank employees.
12.59 hrs (Shri K. Yerrannaidu in the Chair)
Another demand is to constitute a National Rural Bank of India. This demand is from all the sides of this House. This is a unanimous demand of this House.
Sir, I demand that the sixth bipartite agreement should be immediately extended to the employees of the Regional Rural Banks and the Government should take immediate steps to form a National Rural Bank of India.
13.00 hrs.
SHRI PRAMOTHES MUKHERJEE : Sir, I want to talk on the same issue.
MR. CHAIRMAN : It is not necessary. A Member from your Party has already spoken.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : No, Sir. He is from RSP.
“>SHRI P. UPENDRA (VIJAYAWADA): Sir, I and my Party also associate with this issue.
MR. CHAIRMAN: All right.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: As per the list, I will call everybody. Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Sir, he is from RSP.
MR. CHAIRMAN: I will call you.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRAMOTHES MUKHERJEE : Sir, I shall be very brief in my speech…. (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: As per the list, I will call everybody. Shri Pramothes Mukherjee, please.
“>SHRI PRAMOTHES MUKHERJEE : Sir, this is an important issue. In regard to the demands of the employees of the Regional Rural Bank, today, thousands of employees of the Regional Rural Bank have assembled together in the Parliament Street, New Delhi to hold their dharna in support of their demands.
Sir, these rural banks were established at some particular places to improve the condition of the poor people in our country. It plays a significant role. It caters to the banking needs of the teeming millions of our countrymen. But the socio-economic viability of the Regional Rural Bank has been destroyed by the Government of India by mishandling the situation. Consequently, thousands of workers have been on the street to hold dharna in support of their demands.
Their demands are, implementation of sixth bipartite wage settlement, extension of the fringe benefits at par with the employees of the sponsoring banks and to form a National Rural Bank. I, therefore, urge upon the Government and the Minister of Finance to immediately implement and thereby satisfy their demands. श्री चन्द्रमणि त्रिपाठी (रीवा): सभापति महोदय, रीवा मेडिकल कालेज की मान्यता खतरे में है।
MR. CHAIRMAN: You please just wait. I will call you one by one.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: There is a list. They have already given notices. I am calling one by one. When your name comes, you raise your point.