Staff shortage, poor network link irk SBI customers in Howraghat

From our Correspondent

HOWRAGHAT, January 19: For the customers of State Bank of India (SBI), Howraghat branch, visiting the fincial institution is nothing short of a claustrophobic experience. Yet, customers tolerate all pain since SBI is the most popular and biggest me in the country’s banking sector. Moreover, people have so much trust on SBI that even the State Government pays salaries to its employees through it.

Though the officials and employees are not rude, nor has there been any instance of fincial mismagement in the bank branch, but the most harrowing experience that customers undergo at the Howraghat main branch of the SBI during working hours is due to the unparalleled rush of public. Senior citizens and female customers especially find it difficult to transact due shortage of staff and poor network link connectivity.

The bank opens at 9 am for its daily business but most of the customers who come to the bank for monetary transaction have to leave without completion of their work due extreme poor and erratic network link.  This bank is the centre-stage fincial institution of the North-West Karbi Anglong district where all government and non-government establishments’ fincial transactions are made. Though the Howraghat SBI branch has been upgraded to scale three, the customers complain that they do not get adequate services from the bank.

The Howraghat SBI branch mager admitted of facing poor and erratic network link and as a result sometimes they fail to provide smooth and satisfactory services to the customers. Besides, they have to face a lot of difficulties due to shortage of staff. The branch mager further reiterated that there are only three clerical staffs, three officers’ main staff and one of them is continuously engaged in money transportation from Hojai SBI to Howraghat branch.

On the other hand, according to the complaint of customers, there is no toilet facility in the bank. Meanwhile, customers have urged the bank magement to address their grievances.