Bank strike : Cheques worth Rs 16500 crores stuck

New Delhi : The two-day nationwide strike in protest against privatisation of the government banks began on Monday. On Monday, the first day of the employees’ strike, a mixed effect was seen across the country. More than 10 lakh employees-officers participated in the strike.

Indian Bank Employees Organization General Secretary C. H. Venkatachalam said, “On an average, about 2 crore cheques/instruments worth about Rs 16,500 crore are held up for clearance. Government treasury operations and all normal banking transactions have been affected.”

Due to the strike, the transaction of 30 thousand crores in UP alone came to a standstill. State General Secretary of National Confederation of Bank Employees K. K. Singh said that one lakh bankers of 45 rural banks are also involved in the strike.

“Government policies are adversely affecting the economy. Its effect will also be seen in elections. All except the top officials joined the strike,” said Shomya Dutta, General Secretary, AIBOC