The leading citizens of Brahmapur submitted a memorandum to Utkal Gramya Bank (UGB) chairman AN Parida here on Monday protesting against the shifting of the bank’s headquarters from Brahmapur to Balangir following the merger of Rushikullya Gramya Bank (RGB) with Utkal Gramya Bank.
Notably, the RGB was functioning at Brahmapur since 1981 before it merged with the Utkal Gramya Bank in November, 2012.
The memorandum was signed by leading citizens and organsations of the city, including former Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda, former Ganjam Bar Association president Bhagaban Sahu, Ganjam Chamber of Commerce secretary VV Rama Narasinga Rao, Brahmapur Nagarika Manch convenors Govinda Das and Prof Krushna Chandra Panda, former Ganjam Zilla Parishad chairman Dharanidhara Behera,advocate N Rajendra kumar, trade union leader Brundaban Sabat and social workers Brundaaban Sahu, Griridahari Padhi and others.
They decried the State Government’s apathy towards Brahmapur town though it has emerged as a growing commercial nerve center and educational hub of the entire South Odisha. In terms of population and farming community, Ganjam district is ahead of other districts.
So shifting of the bank headquarters would affect the interest of the local farmers and artisans, they contended.
While receiving the memorandum, Parida stated that he had nothing to do with the shifting of the headquarters which was decided after mutual discussion between the State Government and the Central Government. However, he assured to send the memorandum to the appropriate authorities.