Team News Riveting
Raipur, November 21
The Chhattisgarh government has extended its support to the State Bank of India (SBI) Officers’ Association over the issue of privatization.
State’s Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Ravindra Choubey said the Chhattisgarh Government would be firmly standing with the association in its drive “Bank Bachao, Desh Bachao” to oppose the privatisation of banks. The Minister was addressing the zonal session of State Bank of India Officers Association (Bhopal Circle) held here today.
Choubey said that public undertakings and institutions were the strength of the country and were established to accelerate the development of the country. Over time, the institutions have endorsed it and played a pivotal role in expediting the development works. The process of development progressed in many sectors including agriculture, industry, trade.
“Privatization of such important undertakings and institutions is not in the interest of the country,” Choubey said. He added that former Prime Minister Late Smt. Indira Gandhi had nationalised the banks to take the country forward. At present, important enterprises and institutions are being pushed into the path of privatization. “The Chhattisgarh government opposes this and stands with the bank officials in support of the ‘Bank Bachao Desh Bachao’ campaign,” he added.
He said that the then Prime Minister Late Smt. Indira Gandhi laid the foundation for the development of the country by nationalizing the banks. She had then said that banks would be the biggest medium for the development of the country. She worked towards strengthening the economy by running campaigns like poverty alleviation, poverty hatao (poverty elimination).
He said that the threat of privatization was looming large on the institutions like Post, Railways and Banks in the country. Many questions are being raised regarding their privatization.
The Deputy General Secretary of the Association, Y Gopal Krishna thanked the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel for granting holiday on Chhath festival, the state government press note said. He said after Jharkhand and Bihar, Chhattisgarh would be the third State to sanction holiday on Chhath. Urging that banks should be granted holiday on local festivals, Krishna said the move facilitated bank employees to celebrate the festival with their family members.
