My GRAMABANK Memories - 3

Hi, my dear,
Welcome.

While ruminating about the past, I began to wonder, whether the present generation believe us, if we narrate about the working conditions, which prevailed in our SVGB, during those days.

Following are some of the examples I remember about the 1980s position. 

  • 1. During the year 1985, on every Friday, our S R Puram Branch Cashier Sri Varaprasad ji use to tell me that "Today is a festival day sir".

It is because, on every Friday, Branches have to prepare the "weekly".

It is the weekly balance-sheet of the Branch, having 4 columns and approximately 50 rows.

All General Ledger Heads Balances should have to be jotted in a printed statement and tallied. 
The totaling and tallying is a very strenuous work of more than 2 hours.
If there is even a minute difference, then it will not tally and take many hours to complete the task.

Now-a-days, the balance-sheet appears on the computer screens, just at fraction of a second.



Above is the latest photo of Sir G Varaprasad ji [81423 39708], a sincere and jovial person. He recently retired as the Manager of Thottambedu branch and now residing in his native Poyyakothur Village, near Sri Kalahasti.

  • 2. Gramabank Branches are permitted to keep overnight cash balance of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000 maximum, depending on the business volume of the Branch. Over and above that limit, the Branches have to remit the cash and in case of need the cash has to be brought from the nearby commercial bank branches.
  • 3.There use to be one Manager and one Cashier in Small branches, where as one Field Supervisor extra in Medium size branches and in Big branches BM, FS & two or three Cashiers. Getting  the permissions/sanctions for the leaves was very difficult. In emergencies, deputations are being arranged from the nearby branches.
  • 4. There won't be any toilet facilities in the Branches. Staff has to go outside to attend the nature calls.
  • 5. In some branches, there use to be only 4 to 5 transactions, per day. 
  • 6. There use to be only one bus in the morning to reach the Branch in time. If any one miss that bus, then he has to walk or cycle kilometres, to reach the branch.
  • 7. The Gramabank Salaries were far below than that of Commercial Bank staff. After announcement of NIT award in the year 1991, the salary structure become on par with the commercial banks.
  • 8. The people who are in dire need of the job use to join in the Gramabank and eagerly looking for better opportunities. The attrition rate use to be high. Hence, the person who has to join in the Gramabank should have to execute a security bond for Rs. 2000. 
  • 9. In some stray incidents, Gramabank staff got manhandled by the local politicians/goons. 

I shall be glad, if our colleagues add some more points to the above, in the below comments box.

Regards

Comments

Helping Hands Naseer said…
My dear friends,
Please enlighten me about the reactions of the present SGB staff, when they hear from you, about the working conditions of those days.

Regards.
8/17/2020
Ramakrishnarao Savaram said…
Even same staff position & cash overnight balance in Rural commercial Banks are same. Most of the staff use to stay locally since no provision of canteens or messes. Indian Bank Gopalapuram EG Dt. opened during Sep 1974 with Mgr / Clerk cum Cashier & a Substaff. Cash remittances to be at Rajahmundry br by the Cashier, so Mgr use to attend all the finishing work like writing ledgers day book etc work. With the cooperation of cashier we use to manage the branch, since he use to leave around 1 O'clock and return after 5/6 p. m. If any one of fell sick, difficult to get deputation etc. One MBBS doctor use to stay in the village to cover 3/4 sorrounding villagers reaching them by bycycle - good gentleman (no doctors like to stay at villages.). If Cashier wants to write CAIIB or use LFC mgr has to maintain the branch. Since we stayed at the village, we used to get relationships, rapport among villages and developed the business. Villagers are very friendly people treated us as their only family.
8/17/2020
Helping Hands Naseer said…
As the Indian Bank is the sponsoring Bank of SVGB, the same situations may be prevailing in the Indian Bank rural Branches also.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your comments, my dear.
🙏
8/17/2020
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Helping Hands Strategy...!!!

Image
Dear Friends, Greetings from Helping Hands! In the course of our daily lives, we all encounter challenges and difficulties; it's a universal experience. Typically, individuals navigate these obstacles through their own efforts and perseverance. However, in certain complex situations, despite their best attempts, people may find themselves unable to resolve their problems due to constraints such as time, knowledge, or technology. The Helping Hands Foundation (HHF) is committed to addressing and resolving these lingering, unresolved issues and problems at no cost to those in need. About the HHF: HHF, established as a trust in 2011, welcomes individuals driven by a spirit of service, regardless of their caste, creed, religion, financial status, or profession. HHF Vision statement: Our vision is to empower Indian citizens with the knowledge and skills needed to resolve their issues systematically. HHF Mission: We aim to assist the needy by practically demonstrating how to overcome thei...
Read more

Ballia Reunion on 7.1.2026

Image
My dear friends, Sometimes, life gives us a second chance to step into a photograph we thought had faded. This is the story of one such gift —a get-together of the  Ballia Babuas  on  07.01.2026  at the  Ramapriya Convention, Vijayawada . It began, as all beautiful things often do, with a simple message. About fifteen days prior, our dear friend  Mr. Ramachandra Rao Ji  posted an invitation in our WhatsApp group—a digital call that echoed across years and kilometres. Day by day, he added names to an animated list, each confirmation a spark rekindling a fire that had last burned in  Ballia , a town in eastern Uttar Pradesh on the banks of the Ganga. For those who may not know, Ballia is more than a place on a map. It is where our former Prime Minister, Shri Chandra Sekhar, hailed from. It is where the SMMTPG College once opened its doors to students from Andhra Pradesh, offering a bridge—a one-year Remedial Course—that allowed us to pursue dreams i...
Read more

My Ballia Memories

Image
My dear frineds, Greetings to you all. In this post I am sharing my memories attached to "Ballia", where I studied the one year Remedial Course and 2 years M.Sc(Ag) Economics Course, from 1980 to 83, in the SMMTPG College, Ballia.  Folloing is our College Photo. This is the back side of the college. After receipt of the front side photo, I will update it.   During the 1st year, I stayed in the College Hostel. And for the next two years, along with    Mr. Lakshmi Narayana [a M.Sc course student from Vijayawada], I took a Room on rent, in the Police Lines, Ballia. The House owner was Mrs. Suseela Gupata, a teacher. She, her Son     Mr. Suneel and we both students, use to stay in that House. Mr. Lakshminarayana vacated the room after completion of his course. Then Mr. Kishore, Mr. Ramesh Babu, Mr. A V Ramana Reddy and Mr. Surendra become my roommates.  Following are my M.Sc(Ag) Economics Course batchmetes. 1. R. G. Upadyay, Associate Professor 2. Dr....
Read more