The public sector State Bank of India’s Govandi Branch has changed its weekly off from Sundays to Fridays, with effect from December 1 which raised concerns in some regions.
The Message regarding this information was published outside the branch premises this week and the move is purportedly planned to facilitate the local ‘minority’ population residing in and around Govandi, a northeastern suburb.
Despite repeated attempts, top SBI officials did not show up for their comments on the potentially controversial step, apparently taken at the local levels. As per the notice, come December 1, the SBI Govandi Branch will stay shut on all Fridays, and the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.
As stated in the notice, “From Sunday to Thursday, the business hours will be normal — from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily.” Concerns were voiced in some quarters that even the SBI Millenium Branch in Dadar would follow the case, but branch officials on Tuesday outright dismissed the claims, as reported by IANS.
Incidentally, branches of certain other banks in the city and some other parts of the country also provide a Sunday half-day working — which is balanced by all Saturdays off, in view of local people’s convenience.
The Govandi SBI Branch move has provoked strong reactions on social media with objections to the Friday closure to cater to “the demands of the local demographics”, and called for regional coordination for uniformity in the concerned areas.
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