Date:30/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/12/30/stories/2006123003151700.htm

Back Bank staff meet in Hyderabad next month

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, Dec. 29

The seventh All India Conference of Bank Employees' Federation of India (BEFI) would be held in Hyderabad during January 7-10. The Andhra Pradesh Speaker, Mr K.R. Suresh Reddy, released a poster and programme of the meet here.

The conference would discuss the developments in the banking sector and the impact on the common people, rural development and economy, according to Mr B. Sudhakar, General Secretary of the Federation.

It is clear from various reports that the common people and salaried employees, who contribute the largest share in the deposits of financial institutions, are penalised with the ever-decreasing rate of interest. Big business has become the darling of policy makers and it is provided loans at the bare minimum rates, he said in a press release.

There is a reduction in the number of rural branches and increase in urban and metro branches. The backward regions of the country have met the wrath of the policy changes and have been pushed away from the banking facilities. Still half the population is yet to avail of any services and is in the clutches of the moneylenders.

The conference would discuss all these issues and chalk out a plan of action to ensure the development of the banking industry is linked with the growth of agriculture, common man and the economy, the release said.