“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” That is Jammu and Kashmir Bank.
Banks are at the core of economic development of any society. For State of J&K, its economic development is synonymous with J&K Bank. J&K Bank is not merely a financial institution which provides personalized and customized banking services but a unique medium for socio-economic development of the State. The Bank is focused on financially empowering entrepreneurs and providing employment to unemployed youth, besides having the distinction of being the biggest lender under Government sponsored social welfare schemes in the State of J&K.
Bank is continuously evolving as the most responsible and distinguished Corporate Citizen by fulfilling its obligations under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). To achieve this end, the Bank is undertaking exemplary and innovative initiatives to ameliorate the society at large. It is associated with developing the national and international sports in the State from its grass root level and partakes in preserving the rich culture and heritage of the State by continuously developing, maintaining and preserving the various tourist attraction sites. It provide ambulances, helps the needy patients, students, victims of floods and natural calamities etc.
The success story of the Bank, however, has not been a smooth sail but filled with turbulences.
Expanding footprint
Bank has been expanding its footprint in every nook and corner of the State. It has Business units at remotest corners of the State. In Ladakh it has business units spead as far as 250 kms away from Leh. Such is the vast presence of the bank. Bank is headed by the Board of Directors, with staff strength of over 12,500. It is really a matter of satisfaction that despite staff shortage bank is providing excellent banking services to people which includes specialized services to Govt. employees maintaining their salary accounts paying pension to pensioners and so on and so forth.
People’s Bank
History beckons that J&K Bank has stood with the people of the State through thick and thin which is reflected by the fact that at the risk of its property and employees’ lives, the bank continued to serve the people and the economy of the State in extreme conflict ridden period when all other banks had closed their shutters. Even its ATMs also remained filled with cash during 2008 Amaranth row and in 2010 & 2016 civil unrest when ATMs of other banks were closed.
Why Criticism
The Bank being one of the key players in services sector, may commit bonafide mistakes while rendering the services and discharging its functions. The criticism aimed at improving and refining an entity /individual is always welcome as it helps in identifying and recognizing the grey areas and ironing them out. However, the unfounded criticism is the result of being envious to one’s achievements and success, as such unwarranted.
One of the main reasons for criticism against the Bank is “success breeds haters”. Some elements with vested interest are hell bent on maligning the image of bank and finding faults with the various administrative and functioning capacities of the Bank for varied
reasons. One segment is that of the big willful chronic habitual defaulters against whom Bank has been taking action for recovery of Debts. The other part consists of some opportunistic persons whose sole motive is to gain publicity and serve their vested interests. Unscrupulous elements intend to tarnish the fair name of the bank by resorting to use of social, print and electronic media forgetting the fact that the banking institutions are very sensitive particularly those whose shares are listed. At the same time, there are the envious competitors who want to eat the space occupied by J&K Bank but cannot come to terms with fact that it is the J&K Bank which is heart throb of the people of J&K. After suffering loss of 1632 crores in 2016-17, registering slippages of Rs. 4300 crores in a bid to clean up and consolidation of balance sheet by recognizing the inherent stress in the loan book and accordingly making adequate provisions, Bank recorded a quick turn-around by registering a positive bottom-line in the immediately succeeding fiscal 2017-18 with a net profit of Rs. 202 crores and maintaining the improving trend and sustainability in profits by booking net profit of Rs. 146 crores for the 1st half of this FY which should be a matter of great satisfaction for all the stake- holders of the bank.
Process of Recruitment
It is an acknowledged and well established fact that J&K bank is the biggest employer in the State of J&K after the State Government. Fact remains that J&K Bank has been recruiting the human resource in the most organized and transparent manner.
Since 70’s the bank is carrying out recruitment through an independent agency namely Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). Those who are declared successful in written test face the interview and aggregate merit decides final list which is in conformity with the law of the land.
The purpose of doing so is to make recruitment fair, transparent and based on pure merit. Various Courts of the State including the Hon’ble High Court has in the past upheld the process of selection by the Bank from time to time in cases which have been filed thus far against the bank. Most of the Public Sector banks conduct written test for recruitment of clerks and officers through IBPS. On the contrary the private sector banks conduct recruitment through interviews only but J&K Bank in order to be fair and transparent has chosen the process followed by public sector bank in the recruitment.
Conduct of written test and interview for filing posts of officers is understandable as interview gives an insight into the candidate’s suitability, personality, competency, capability, intelligence, general knowledge and aptitude of the candidates. However in keeping with latest practice followed by public sector banks, the J&K Bank, it is understood has decided to appoint clerks on the basis of merit secured in written test only.
In so far as recruitment of sub-ordinate staff is concerned J&K Bank makes recruitment on compassionate grounds and in view of grave business exigencies. It is done in accordance with the rules laid down by the bank for such recruitment. In case of death of any staff member, one of his/her legal heirs is entitled to be considered for recruitment commensurate with his/her educational qualification.
At present Bank has a network of over 1000 branch outlets including 922 full-fledged business units, 50 USBs, 26 Extension Counters and 3 mobile branches in addition to 1266 ATMs. During the last two years Bank has opened 109 business units / Easy Payment Units (USBs) besides 229 ATMs. Bank has drawn up an ambitious branch expansion plan for establishment of over 400 new business units/ USBs during the next two years which will ensure furthering financial inclusion to remote and unbanked areas besides creating more avenues of employment opportunities for unemployed competent youth of the state.
Normally during economic slowdown and difficult times banks shy away from making recruitment and freeze the process but J&K Bank has not done so and is going ahead with expansion to reach every household for socio economic growth of the State. It reflects the long term strategy and vision of the bank keeping in view larger interests of the people. Therefore to meet the exigencies of the expanding business and organic growth, bank would need sub-ordinate staff engagements on fast track basis which is done by the competent authority of the bank as per rules and this has been the practice since the inception of the bank. Such practice regarding recruitment of sub-ordinate staff is prevalent in the entire banking industry. In this segment however there is scope to mobilize resources through out-sourcing agencies as well.
False assurance for appointment
It has been observed that during recruitment processes some unscrupulous elements entice gullible candidates into believing that they will be appointed in the bank against consideration. Some such elements have reportedly duped people in the past. Candidates should understand that recruitment is done through proper procedure based on written test and interview. It is advisable that the candidates should not fall into the trap and later blame the organisation for their own follies. The bank should however also through the media make the general public aware against such attempts of unscrupulous elements.
Way Forward
Bank being at the top needs to consolidate its position and remain at the top. For this it needs to grow, innovate and change with the passage of time, lay more emphasis on technology, focus more on ability, merit, customer delight and transparency.
Man power planning, staff rationalization consistent with adoption of technology should have bearing for recruitment in various cadres of the bank which will ensure efficient staff / business productivity and cost management; hallmark of any progressive institution.
Bank should publish number of posts to be filled in, put the roll numbers and names of selected candidates on its website with scores secured by them in written test and interview. Create on-line grievance cell in the office of Chairman and CEO.
No doubt recruitment for subordinate posts is being made by the bank as per its norms but it would be pragmatic to resort to more transparent procedure akin to Govt’s recent process of making recruitment of peons purely on merit secured by them in Matric and 12th class. Bank may amend its rules accordingly. It may simultaneously retain power of recruitment on compassionate grounds and to meet business exigencies. This will go a long way in making the process of recruitment more transparent.
M.A.Shah is former President J&K Bank
manzoorashah@gmail.com