PATIALA: The two day 20th Conference of All India State Bank of Patiala Emp. Federation. & 6th Conference of State Bank of Patiala Emp. Union (Pb. State) concluded here  on Sunday was attended by more than 1500 delegates from all over the country. 

Addressing the delegate session Com. P. S. Sunderesan, Former Vice President of AIBEA expressed deep concern over the increasing NPA of the banks. In the last three years 52000 crore of fresh NPA has been added in the banking system.   Total NPA of the banking system has touched a level of 3 lac crores, if interest is added to it.  He said that the mounting NPA is a real route cause problem of the Indian Banking Industry.   All India Bank Emp. Asso. Has published a list of defaulters where the NPA level is 1 crore and above in each account. He demanded to streamline the recovery system and the employee should come forward to fight for stern action against defaulters so that the banking system be strengthened. 

Com. N. K. Gaur, speaking against the merger of the associate banks with SBI said that in spite of the "Corporate Slavery" the performance of the associate banks have surpassed the performance of SBI in many functional areas.   Associate Banks with over 4,873 branches across the country, business turnover of rupees 3,43,764 crores and profitability of Rs. 2,031 crores are major contributor to the Indian Economy.

The business volume of Associate Banks constitute over 48% of the business turnover of SBI, which they have earned with excellent service to the customer in their respective area of operation. Thus no way the merger of Associate Banks with SBI is justified, he said.   It is worth mentioned here that in yesterdays inaugural session Com. C. H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary, AIBEA has already declared that AIBEA and AIBOA will go for one day strike on 03.01.2008 against the merger of Associate Banks with SBI for which efforts are going on to invite other banking unions also to participate in the strike.

In the delegate session problems and demands of the bank employees were discussed at length and the employees shown their total commitment towards their association. Resolution concerning banking and economy were adopted in the Conference which includes "Nuclear Weapon Free World", lifting of US Embargo on CUBA, good relationship with neighbouring countries i.e. China, Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Restoration of democracy in Pakistan was also demanded in the Conference.  It was also opposed the cross merger of public sector bank to make 4-5 vigour banks in the country and against dilution of government equity in the nationalised banks.   In the last 30 years 25 private banks have either been closed or merged with the other public sector banks. Despite these failures the government is advocating the privatization of public sector banks.