Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: AIBOC, the largest banking sector trade union organization worldwide representing around 3.25 lakh members, expressed grave concern over the deployment of bank officers as Electoral Roll Micro servers (ERMO) for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal from December 26, 2025 to February 14, 2026.
A spokesman of the AIBOC said that such prolonged diversion of officers from core banking duties will disrupt internal and external regulatory compliance, accounting closures, audit-related work, and the achievement of statutory/business targets. This will directly impact customer service and operational outcomes, and will also severely affect the implementation of other government-sponsored initiatives.
While bank officers have consistently cooperated with lawful public duties in the larger national interest, the scale, timing, and prolonged nature of these deployments are now materially impairing essential banking functions and exposing banks to avoidable operational, compliance, and service risks. Such deployments also cause significant personal disruption to officers, affecting performance continuity, training obligations, and legitimate career progression.
AIBOC strongly objected to the manner in which many officers in West Bengal have been compelled to travel long distances (about 750-800 km in several cases) for training at Kolkata and then again to places of engagement, largely at their own expense, with inadequate logistical support from the State Election authorities.
The Trade Union further alarmed that the deployment instructions do not clearly provide for insurance coverage, clear medical/family emergency release protocols, or unambiguous reimbursement arrangements, exposing officers to avoidable personal and occupational risks. There was no security/police protection; the micro observers were left at the mercy of the unruly mob and had to fend for themselves.
The Union demanded immediate intervention at the highest level including escalation to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to stop or substantially curtail such prolonged non-banking deployment of bank officers during the critical quarter/year end.
AIBOC called upon the Election Commission of India, the State Election authorities, and the Department of Financial Services to act immediately to ensure the safety, dignity, and fair treatment of all officers requisitioned for SIR duties.
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