The forum said many young and aspiring graduates and post graduates had quit Government and PSB jobs to join IDBI Bank in early 2004.
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ADNAN ABIDI
The IDBI Bank SC, ST and OBC Employees Forum has requested President of India, the Centre as well as management of the bank to protect rights, careers, and dignity of thousands of SC/ST/OBC employees by absorbing them into leading PSU banks/Fls or other public sector units.
A memorandum submitted by the employees forum to the President sought her ‘urgent and compassionate intervention in safeguarding jobs of thousands of socially and economically backward employees and their families likely to be severely impacted by proposed privatisation of lDBl Bank.’
Forwarded to PM, FM
A copy of the memorandum has been forwarded to the Prime Minister; Union Finance Minister; Governor, Reserve Bank; Secretary, DIPAM; Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment; and to Chairpersons each of National Commissions for Scheduled Castes; Scheduled Tribes; and Backward Classes.
The forum said many young and aspiring graduates and post graduates had quit Government and PSB jobs to join the bank in early 2004. They had fond hopes of assuring themselves of career prospects, salary hikes and better perquisites. They are shocked to hear about the bank’s moves on merger/privatisation. With uncertainty looming large, it’s very difficult lo get matching jobs elsewhere in case the merged bank slaps a VRS offer.
Switch-over option
The memorandum requested that in the event that privatisation is finalised, all existing OBC/SC/ST employees be provided a one-time switch-over option to other public sector banks, with a listed series of safeguards.
These should ensure transfer with same service conditions; no implied loss of seniority, pay, or service benefits; retention of reservation protection and promotion rights; and a posting near current place of work to minimise disruption. These would make for a ‘humane and constitutionally respectful’ initiative to protect interests of those who joined the bank under assurance of public sector job safeguards, the memorandum said.
Promulgation of law
Importantly, the employees forum also urged the Centre to consider a statutory framework or amendment that ensures SC/ST/OBC reservation protection continues for employees of any public institution that undergoes privatisation or disinvestment in future. A law may be promulgated mandating reservation and inclusion of social justice clauses in MoUs with private buyers during PSU sales.
Government has followed SC/ST/OBC reservation during recruitment before disinvestment happens. Thus existing employees from these categories enjoy protected status under constitutional provisions. lDBl Bank has been a pillar of inclusive bonking and notion-building, the forum recalled. SC/ST/OBC employees are not merely employees but representatives of Government’s vision for equality, opportunity, and upliftment.
Published on January 18, 2026
