11 Bank Officials Have Died In Last 12 Days Due To Demonetization Related Stress, But Do We Care?

Tempers flare, voices are raised and frustrated people bawl at bank employees when they are told that they cannot swap old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 with the new one or withdraw due to the shortage of cash.

In this process what is conveniently ignored is the condition of the bankers who have been working tirelessly since Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise announcement on television that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes would cease to be legal tender from November 8 midnight.

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Amid reports of people dying after waiting long hours in queues to get their old currency notes exchanged and hard earned money withdrawn following the demonetization, very few know that 11 bank officials have died in the last 12 days due to stress.

Most of the bank men and women are spending sleepless nights working 72 hours at a stretch and many of them end up paying from their own pockets for mistakes they commit out of ¡°high level of stress¡±.

Here, we bring you few stories of the commitment and dedication of bank employees who despite their personal problems and unavoidable situations are there to serve you.

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Despite suffering from lungs infection, Manish has forgotten his pain

An Assistant Branch Manager at IDBI Bank in Ajmer (Rajasthan), Manish Singhal has been undergoing treatment for lungs infection for the past two-and-a-half months. He was on leave but as soon as the decision to scrap the currency notes was announced, he resumed duties. He now comes in his branch every day at 9 am and stays there until 9.30 pm.

¡°Given the heavy rush and customers¡¯ sufferings, I have forgotten all my pain. Sometimes, I forget to take medicine in time because of the work engagements, my wife calls me up and reminds me,¡± he said.

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Cancer fails to deter Anil¡¯s commitment to serving people in this difficult time

Anil Kumar Sarraf is the manager of UCO Bank¡¯s currency chests at Gwalior. He is suffering from Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a blood cancer that

¡°I am battling on two fronts ¨C first is cancer which is rapidly impacting my immune system and the second is my responsibility to ensure all branches get cash in time. To ensure this, I have to work 12-14 hours daily,¡± he said.

Currency chests are select branches of scheduled banks, which are authorised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to facilitate distribution of notes and coins. In these branches, notes and coins are stocked on behalf of the RBI. These currency chests are expected to distribute notes and coins to other bank branches in their area of operation.

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With almost mature pregnancy of eight months, they are on duty for 12 hours

Varsha Tomar and Awni Sharma who are posted in two different banks in Madhya Pradesh are eight months pregnant. Their maternity leaves are already approved, but they are coming to their branches without fail to work for around 12 hours given the heavy rush of customers.

They say for women in their condition ¡°it is not so easy to work in such a long shift almost every day with concentration and stress¡±. ¡°It is neither good for our health nor babies. Sitting continuously for long durations often causes swelling in legs and pain. Still, we are working for the greater good of the society. Hope they understand it,¡± they added.

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To get married in December without any preparation

Gaurav Parate who works Union Bank has his wedding fixed on December 8. Official, he has been on leave since November 15 but he is working day and night in his branch.

¡°I do not have time for shopping but I am sure I will do it online few days before the marriage. At present, my priority is to help people in distress,¡± he smilingly said.

Same is the case with Kajal Dubey who works with Vijaya Bank at Bangalore. She is scheduled to get married on December 9 in Patna. Therefore, she too is on leave in official records but physically present in her office since the demonetization was announced.