Dimapur, May 13 (MExN): The public leaders, officers, businessmen, NGO leaders and student leaders from Akuluto and VK sub-division residing at Dimapur held an emergency meeting where resentment was expressed against the proposed shifting of the State Bank of India (Akuluto branch) and SDO (C) HQ to Lumami village, according to a report on the said meeting from Khekaho Assumi and Kashiho Chishi on behalf of the elders of Akuluto and VK sub-division.
The meeting reviewed at length why the SBI branch should be shifted to anywhere from Akuluto, and examined the past and present status of the bank concluding that it was already matured with it being incepted in 1980. The grounds discussed why it should not be shifted were that apart from being set up to promote rural economy in the said area, it catered to the needs of four sub-divisions i.e., Akuluto sub-division, VK sub-division, Atoizu sub-division and Suruhuto sub-division. Service pensioners and employees living under these mentioned sub-divisions make their financial transactions through the SBI Akuluto branch, which is centrally located and pensioners, for instance, from far-flung areas, cannot go another 6-7 kilometers beyond Akuluto. Another reason why the bank should remain in Akuluto is that there are 20 government departments from administration to medical, power to veterinary and Block, according to the meeting.
The meeting also took strong exception that authority from the Nagaland University (NU) at Lumami Campus are openly luring Bank staff of the Akuluto branch with assurances of providing sufficient quarters in the university campus itself if the said bank is shifted to Lumami. The report added that the Nagaland University quarters/buildings would be given free of cost. Taking this into consideration, the meeting cautioned the Nagaland University authorities to contain itself to its own status as an autonomous institution and not attempt to invite “self-strangulation” from pressure.
The ground of security lapses cited as a reason to shift the bank was also repudiated. The issue was examined and concluded that at no point of time questions of serious security lapses have arisen during the last 20 years of the bank’s existence. Also the reason cited of poor recovery of loans, particularly PMRY was dismissed for the specific matter that it was an issue that would have to be sorted out between the government and the bank. The matter relating to poor recovery of PMRY loans has become a chronic disease in the entire districts of Nagaland and not Akuluto town alone, it was strongly observed.
It was also expressed that at this crucial juncture when the people from the four sub-divisions are ready to come out in the street in “anger motive”, the bank should reconcile with the people and never raise such issues like shifting banks from Akuluto town or anywhere else.
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