Fond Memories about SBT on its Foundation Day

SBT FOUNDATION DAY - 12^TH SEPTEMBER

Today is the foundation day for State Bank of Travancore, an associate of State Bank of India, merged with the parent on 31^st March 2017. As Covid threat is no longer looming large, the foundation day of SBT (came into existence 12^th September 1945), is sure to be celebrated today, all over Kerala, with love and fond memories by all ex-SBTians. People ask me, “What is so great to celebrate the foundation day of an institution, which no longer exists". Yes, we have special reasons to celebrate and the main factor is the human connect that binds us, till we breathe our last. I share a few personal instances, which describe the character of the bank and the attitude of the staff’

No mincing of words, please: When I joined the bank in 1985 as a Probationary Officer, I joined State Bank of Travancore Officers’ Association (SBTOA), which was a minority association and a sister wing of SBT Employees’ Union, the major employees’ union in SBT at that time. After a few years, the officers association could not sustain due to its minority character and I left SBTOA somewhere in 1993. Associate Banks Officers Association (ABOA) Unit SBT, affiliated to AIBOC, the majority officers’ association in SBT called for election of office bearers and committee members in 1994, for the period 1994-97. I got a call from the then organising secretary Shri Krishnan Kutty Nair that Shri N.S.Muralidharan Nair (popularly known as NSM or Murali) would like me to contest for the committee member position relating to its members working outside Kerala and Kanyakumari Distrrict (KK District) Tamil Nadu. I accepted the request and contested. One of my very close friends (even now), Shri X met me personally and said “I will not vote for you.  Your opponent is with the officers' association for a long time and will contribute better for the welfare of the members”. Though startled by the outburst, I managed to smile. When the results were declared, I won the election by a decent margin and Shri X was the first to congratulate me! (As luck would have it, my then opponent for the above position, also became a EC member subsequently, consequent to forming of Chennai Zone to cover branches outside Kerala). Shri X is only an example of a SBTian expressing opinion and upholding conviction, irrespective of personal closeness.

Difference exists, but camaraderie continues: I accompanied our secretary NSM for a visit of KK District branches and association meetings.  One officer from Kerala, who was posted to one of the interior branches in the district, had a heated discussion with the secretary, as he felt injustice was done to him in the transfer exercise. The exchange of words between the secretary and the officer was so harsh that I felt the same might get reflected in the meeting of officers to be held later in the day in the town. To my surprise, after such an episode, NSM put his hands over the shoulders of the agitated officer and took him out for a tea, outside the branch. In the evening meeting, the officer concerned and NSM were sharing a few jokes, as if nothing happened in the morning. The secretary taught a practical lesson that day, as to how difference of opinion should never come in the way of camaraderie.

Integrity Respected and results followed: Shri K.R.Srikantan was the first Zonal Head of Chennai Zone, formed in 1995, covering all branches of SBT outside Kerala. (He went on to become the Managing Director of SBBJ in 2003).  I was working in zonal office, Chennai and I was also the Assistant Secretary, Chennai Zone, ABOA Unit: SBT. During that period, ‘Cheque accommodation’ for a set of clients was entertained by two branches, A & B, by discounting cheques drawn mutually. After some time, one set of cheques discounted by A branch, aggregating to app. Rs.50 lacs, was returned by B branch, as the accommodation could no longer be sustained. Normally, in such situations, suspension of officers concerned before resorting to disciplinary action could not be ruled out. Hence I met the Zonal Manager, in my capacity as assistant secretary of the association, assured him that all efforts for recovery will continue and requested him to avoid any extreme action that might be contemplated. He talked to the officers concerned and made them know that, while prima facie no malafide was suspected on their part, their future in the bank very much depended on the recovery of the amount involved. There was no knee jerk reaction like suspension, transferring to innocuous positions outside the state, etc. This had a salutary effect. Encouraged by the faith imposed, the officers concerned recovered the entire money within 15 days from the offenders, which also enabled them to prove their innocence. Though disciplinary action was initiated against the officers for the alleged lapses without any let down in procedures, the officers concerned could establish their integrity and non-involvement, by recovering the entire money with full interest due thereon in record time. The Zonal Manager Shri Srikantan demonstrated as to how to handle such situations, where officers appeared to have been duped, with focus on recovery from external offenders before much time is lost.

Personal Touch Remained: My wife completed six years in Chennai Zone in 1996 and was due for transfer to other zones.  I talked to our association secretary NSM and requested him to permit me to apply for a transfer to go along with her. (My term as Assistant Secretary in Chennai Zone was up to 1997). NSM told me “Once a position is accepted in the association, it cannot be abandoned mid-way for self- interest”. I appreciated his stand and told my wife to apply for Tridvandrum Zone and told her that I will join her in 1997. I requested the personnel officer, Chennai Zone to surrender her name to Trivandrum Zone, which he obliged. One week after the inter-zone transfer for scale I and scale II officers were finalised, I was summoned by the Zonal Manager Shri K.R.Srikantan to his cabin. He told me “Viswanathan, how can you decide on the transfer of a branch manager (my wife was working as a branch manager in a city branch) working under me. For administrative reasons, we have decided to retain her in that branch for one more year”. He did not elaborate and allowed me to go. I called my secretary and advised him the developments. He laughed it off and kept down the phone.  Only when I met the personnel officer, I could realise that the secretary NSM made a personal request over phone to the Zonal Manager for retaining my wife for one more year in Chennai, which he readily agreed. I was overwhelmed by the affection shown towards me by both NSM and the Zonal Manager, Shri K.R.Srikantan. When I thanked NSM, he told me “Viswan, it is important that you follow and comply with the rules, but please remember to permit deviations, when allowed by the set up,  to help people, who are in genuine need. (The next year, me and my wife moved over to Trivandrum).

Decision Respected, even if opinion differs: Shri Sasidharan Nair (popularly known as Sasi in Trivandrum) worked with me in Trivandrum Zonal Office from 1997-2000. He was the EC member and I was the Assistant Secretary of Trivandrum Zone.  I, along with the other EC members of Trivandrum Zone, was preparing the list of scale I and II officers, which contained transfer requests from officers as well as those who completed their term in the current assignment, for submitting it to the management for its consideration. In respect of one officer, there was a difference of opinion between me and Sasi, on the place of posting suggested. He became emotional on the issue and left the meeting in a huff. It upset me and other EC members, since Sasi played a major role in revamping the co-operative credit society for officers and was held in high esteem by all of us. However, we continued the meeting and completed our suggestions to be submitted to the management on transfers. When the meeting was about to end, Sasi came back, participated in the discussions and helped us in completing the job. He was sorry about the incident and said that he will be part of the decisions taken in the meeting, though his opinion on the transfer posting of a particular officer was based out of genuine facts. Sasi showed the real sprit of SBT – “air your opinions without fear or favour, but once a decision is taken abide by it and help in implementing it, though the decision might be counter to your original views”

There are many more such instances to elaborate from my side.  And so will be the case in respect of others also. We love SBT for so many reasons but the inter-personal relationships established appear to top the list.

Regards

V.Viswanathan

12^th September 2022