A workshop on ‘Banking Rights of Customers’ was held jointly by the Banking Codes and Standard Board of India (BCSBI) and NGO Sahabhagi Vikash Abhiyan (SVA) at Khariar recently.
The BCSBI was set up as an independent autonomous board to ensure availability of quality financial services to customers of the banking industry. A set of comprehensive codes and standards for banks have been evolved by the BCSBI which are adopted by the banks while delivering services to their customers. The objective of the workshop was, thus, to spread awareness among customers about the codes and standards, said the organisers.
Over 400 farmers and bank customers from Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi and Bargarh districts attended the workshop. The spokespeople were Anand Aras, CEO of BCSBI, and Hemlata Rajan, its senior Vice-President.
Speaking on the background of the BCSBI, the CEO informed that the BCSCI has been constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to address the issues relating to availability of adequate banking services to common person. Aras also spoke about customers' rights and the way to ascertain those with the help of the codes evolved by the BCSBI.
Hemlata initiated a dialogue with the participants to help them raise questions on matters they have not understood. She also engaged the participants in a quiz, which created much enthusiasm among the participants.
Jagdish Pradhan, founder president of SVA, presided over the meeting. “This is the first programme of the BCSBI in Odisha. Considering the increasing number of customers in banks, the need for awareness among the customers, such programmes carry much importance," said Pradhan. Anand Aras assured that more numbers of such programme would be conducted in future.