AIRRBEA HISTORY

ABOUT HISTORY

In 1975, the Indira Gandhi government decided to set up rural banks nationwide to promote rural economic development through a special law.

The first of five village banks was launched nationwide on October 2, 1976, the birthday of Anal Gandhi, who said, "India does not live in the big cities ... but rather in the villages." Rural banks' shares are 50% owned by the central government, 35% by the sponsor bank and 15% by the state government.

When the village banks were started, they were not paid by the commercial bank. Certain positions of state governments have been imposed parallel to those employed herein and paid accordingly. The state had wage disparities.

In opposition to this, the All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association (AIRRBEA), founded by Rural Bank employees, began fighting in 1979 on the principle of 'equal pay for equal work', demanding that rural bank employees be paid commercial bank wages.

​The Majesty began with questions and protests in Parliament and many rallies and rallies in the Delhi rally and the ramifications of village bank employees and officials. Attempts were made in court and in all possible ways, following the case. The Supreme Court, headed by the Honorable Justice Obulretti, set up a tribunal in Hyderabad exclusively to decide the case.

​At the Tribunal, AIRRBEA's efforts to establish justice are no less grim. Thousands of documents and hundreds of testimonies were put forward. Central government, NABARD and sponsor bank officials have testified against us.

​In 1991, the tribunal ruled that the demands of the village bank employees were reasonable. Since the establishment of the Tribunal in 1987, it has made clear that commercial banking must be paid to rural bank employees.

However, according to the verdict, NABARD has set up a committee called the Equation Committee, which would have to somehow reduce the commercial bank's pay and not the wage committee. According to the Equation Committee, the remuneration was to be reduced to 3: 1 and 5: 1, depending on the positions of the village bank employees.

​At that time, a fourth bilateral contract was offered to the commercial bank. Many allowances were denied to the village banks. Protests erupted again under the leadership of AIRRBEA. To deal with the situation, NABARD immediately set up a 'Gupta Committee' and asked for any allowances. Accordingly, the Gupta Committee was guided by the concerned Rural Banks to attend to the respective sponsor bank for grant of allowances in the fourth bilateral agreement. Although we opposed it, it became practical.

​All right, the bank employees and officials thought that when the wage hike in the commercial bank was no longer available, the village banks would automatically come into force. But that is not the situation. Commercial banks are members of the IBA. When the trade unions negotiate and negotiate with the IBA, their respective banks have the authority to enforce it. But the village banks are not. According to the RRB ACT, sec 17, the federal government has the right to determine wages.

​With the 5th bilateral agreement in the commercial bank, the central government pulled out of issuing the mandate. AIRRBEA continued to talk. As time went on, protests began again. The central government and NABARD remained silent. We again sued the Supreme Court for not respecting the tribunal verdict.

​In the meantime, the central government and the NABARD formed a Mahalik committee to work out the salaries of village bank employees. The Mahalik Committee has proposed a new two-fold ketan wage for rural bank employees, not just commercial bank employees. AIRRBEA sued and forbade the committee's recommendation not to be implemented.

​On the other hand, the fight for a fifth bilateral agreement was ongoing. Years passed. The AIRRBEA continued to carry out strikes and Delhi rallies. The sixth bilateral agreement was also implemented for commercial bank employees. We struggled not to tire out, but to get tired. Finally, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the need for commercial bank wages for rural bank employees. As a result, the 5th and 6th bilateral agreements for Grameen Bank employees and officials were implemented.

​There were no major problems in the implementation of the 7th, 8th and 9th bilateral agreements. After the wage hike in commercial banks, the village bank unions will meet with the finance ministry officials of the central government. Based on that, the central government will issue the decree. NABARD will forward it to all Rural Bank administrations. Subsequently, the respective village bank administrations will implement it. The delay is only a few months.

​With the initiative of AIRRBEA, the UFRRBU Trade Union Federation has been formed by uniting all the unions in the village banks and the village bank employees and officials across the country.

​Grama Bank employees, who have become protests, travel with confidence to guard the village banks, retain the rights they have fought for and overcome the life-threatening demands such as pensions!