Sir,

During the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown, banking services becomes essential and  the Government is making all efforts to provide best possible facilities to the general public. All the banking activities are going on as usual but people reaching the banks or withdrawing cash at ATMs are challenges.

 Most of the migrant workers, senior citizens and pensioners are not in a position to draw the required cash due to logistic issues. Also many of them cannot avail technology supported services due to lack of knowledge and hence depend on third party assistance which is not advisable. 

On the other hand, for majority of population everyday existence depends on hard cash transactions. In the face of these difficult circumstances, the Banking industry as a whole should step up, become proactive and help the people in need with measures which are efficient and simple to implement. 

Appointing Banking Correspondents (BCs) with mini ATM (hand-held machines) in urban areas who could be positioned at regular intervals of distance that one can walk up to easily would help general public withdraw or deposit money to pay bills.

 Action should be initiated immediately by the Finance Ministry, Government of India, to direct all the banks to implement such measures as early as possible. 

On earlier instances, BCs were appointed only to cover and service rural areas but now the need to appoint them in urban and metropolitan cities also has risen. Banking services should be considered as essential services and Bankers must also be considered indispensable like the doctors, nurses, Police personnel etc., as they continue to be on duty even in the face of very difficult times as this.

– Dr. S. T. Ramachandra, General Manager (Retd.), Canara Bank, Bengaluru

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