People in Kajuripada village and adjoining areas under Nuagada block in Gajapati district have expressed strong resentment over the sudden closure of the local State Bank of India (SBI) branch.
According to the villagers the branch was closed on Friday without any prior notice to customers. People from various villages, even distant tribal villages, had come to the bank to withdraw money and for other banking transactions, but they found the branch locked. Many like Self-Help Group members, pregnant women, wage workers working under contractors and Government employees waited for hours as they had no knowledge about the branch closure.
When contacted, SBI Regional Manager Bikram Kumar Mandata said that because of the sudden illness of the Branch Manager, the bank was closed. Mandata added that he has already instructed other staffs of the branch to open the bank.