Arrears, Allowances payment: RRBs including Tripura Grameen Bank staff fume

Resentment among the employees of Tripura Grameen Bank (TGB) like other Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) across the the country is brewing after the Ministry of Finance issued an order on April 1 pertaining to the introduction of a revised pay scale for RRB employees.  This pay revision based on the 11th Bipartite Settlement will become effective from November 1, 2017.

However, All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association (AIRRBEA) vented anger at the clauses mentioned in the Pay revision order – especially relating to the payment of pending salaries. Raising strong protest, the AIRRBEA leaders accused the Union Government of treating the RRB employees in a step-motherly manner.

While procedures mentioned in the Finance Ministry’s Order for payment of pending salaries have raised serious concerns, RRB employees including the TGB staff are also protesting against Allowance related issues.

In a statement AIRRBEA leaders said, according to the government order, the Order mentioned few allowances such as Dearness Allowance with the revision of basic salary, but many more allowances have been omitted under various pretexts.

The leaders also alleged, the Union Government has discriminated against RRBs in payment of pending salaries.

As per the government order, RRB employees will not get their arrears of salary right now. Employees will receive the first installment of arrears in the last quarter of the current financial year, i.e. in the month of January-March of the following year and the 2^nd installment will be paid six months afterward.

This is a gross injustice of the Central Government towards RRB employees and employees will not accept under any circumstances, the statement of AIRRBEA read.

The “core committee” of the Association is holding an important meeting and warned that the association will organize a vigorous movement across India to meet the demands as per the decision of this meeting.

It is to be noted that RRB across India get equal pay for equal work as per the judgment of the “National Industrial Tribunal”. But this time the organization thinks it is completely different.