New Delhi: Close to 10 lakh employees of various state-run banks are going on strike over the government’s proposed move to privatize two public sector banks. With several public sector banks closing down their operations on December 16 & 17, people will face disruptions in services like cheque clearance, money transfer & other facilities.
It may be noted that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Budget 2021-2022 outlined the roadmap for privatisation of two public sector banks, as part of government’s 1.75 crore disinvestment target for the fiscal year.
The bank unions are strongly opposed to the government’s move to privatize public sector lenders, claiming that it’s they who undertake public welfare initiatives. They claim that it’s they who stayed at the forefront in implementing path-breaking initiatives of the government like Demonetisation, Jan Dhan Yojana, Insurance scheme, Mudra Yojana & others.
“By privatizing the public lenders, the government is putting their employment at risk,” said a bank union leader.
The strike has affected daily lives of people as well as the business community. A lot many bank staffers and those supporting strike took to Twitter and vented their anger, frustration over privatization while some others shared memes laced with witty sarcasm.
#BankStrike if banks privatisation then see the effect….all money will goto corporate companies only. No support for normal public pic.twitter.com/OPe9zhoV0p
— Maraboina PURUSHOTHAM (@MaraboinaP60759) December 16, 2021
A Powerful Shot on #BankStrike pic.twitter.com/sR2XBIbl7l
— Newton Bank Kumar (@idesibanda) December 16, 2021
#BankStrike
#StopPrivatization_SaveBanks
Govt. Must think over it pic.twitter.com/KAE9ja1ALd— Ankitgoswami (@Ankitgo82807046) December 16, 2021
A Powerful Shot on #BankStrike pic.twitter.com/sR2XBIbl7l
— Newton Bank Kumar (@idesibanda) December 16, 2021
Protest against privatisation in the streets of Mumbai #BankStrike
