Srinagar: Banking services were several hit even as customers are facing inconveniences in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley on Monday, the first day of two nationwide strike called by employees unions against the privatization of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and retrograde banking reforms.
Meanwhile, customers alleged that some ATMs have already dried up as the cash was not refilled with banks remaining closed on Saturday and Sunday as well.
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine bank unions, decided to go on a two-day national wide strike to protest against the proposed privatization of two state-owned lenders.
However, branches of private sector lenders like J&K Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank are open as they are not part of the strike.
Branches of all the centralized banks, including State Bank of India (SBI), were closed since early morning, causing inconvenience to the customers, who were caught unaware of the strike. Despite banks, including SBI, claiming that the customers were informed about the strike, people in the valley alleged that no prior information about the strike was communicated to them.
“It is really ironic that we had no idea about the strike. We should have been informed about it so that we could have made prior arrangements. I have to send money to my son who is studying in an engineering college in Meerut. But due to the strike, I can only send him the money on Wednesday,” Yousuf Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar, told UNI.
Similar, views were expressed by other customers in the valley. But, the customers can use internet banking services to make transactions.
