Hyderabad, Jan 8 (UNI) All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include bank employees and officers under the prioritised category along with other Coronavirus Warriors for the administration of COVID-19 vaccination.
In a letter to Mr Modi, a copy of which was marked to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) Chairman Rajkiran Rai G, AIBEA General Secretary Ch Venkatachalam said after all the traumatic experience the country and people have gone through in the last 8 to 9 months, there is a sigh of relief to hear that the vaccine is getting ready.
He said there are reports that the Government would commence the administration of the Covid vaccination on certain priority basis to various categories of people who are more vulnerable for the infection.
It is reported that the Expert Panel with the Health Ministry has recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine is to be distributed first in three groups – health care workers would be the top priority, followed by frontline workers that include the police, armed forces and disaster management volunteers, and lastly, people above the age of 50 years and those with comorbidities.
Mr Venkatachalam said the Government is well aware that bank employees have been working in the Bank branches without any interruption all these months braving all odds, risks and challenges.
They have truly worked as Covid Warriors and it is sad to record that many bank employees and officers became a victim of this infection and have lost their precious lives in discharge of their duties. Similarly many bank staff got infected and managed to get out of it back to normal health, he said, adding that even now bank employees are working under such threatening circumstances.
The AIBEA General Secretary said Bank employees have extended their continuous services to the people during the entire pandemic period. Buses did not ply. Trains did not run. Flights did not take off. Normal life of the people came to virtual halt.
But Bank Branches, right from the metropolitan to the small hamlets, remained open to serve the people our country. We are proud that bank employees covered themselves with glory with their sense of duty during these risky times, the top Union leader said.
We are very happy that these commendable services were duly taken note of by the Government when their services came in for high appreciation by your goodselves as well as by the Finance Minister, Mr Venkatachalam maintained.
