Truth behind six days bank holiday buzz on social media
A WhatsApp message, which went viral, described reasons behind bank holidays as the financial bodies would remain closed from September 2 to 5 and then from September 8 to 9 for the weekend.
New Delhi : Social media is once again flooding with messages to people warning of six days strike of the bank in the first week of September. It has been claimed in messages that the ATMs will go dry, banks will not operate, leaving people in distress.
A WhatsApp message, which went viral, described reasons behind bank holidays as the financial bodies would remain closed from September 2 to 5 and then from September 8 to 9 for the weekend, a total of six days in the first week of September. It said the week was starting with Janmashtami on Monday, September 3, and then the banks would go on strike for demands related to pension.
Here is a truth behind the viral message on six days bank holidays
Contrary to what is claimed in the message about the strike, employees of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on September 4-5 (Tuesday and Wednesday) has been misunderstood as a strike by all bank employees.
"The message going around in the social media that banks will be closed for six days in the first week of September due to holidays and bank strike is not correct," National Organization of Bank Workers Vice President Ashwani Rana told IANS.
"It's only the RBI employees who are going on mass casual leave on September 4-5 for demands related to to Provident Fund and pension. This will not have much impact on the day-to-day operations of the other public and private sector banks," Rana said.
In another update, the banks in Delhi and Mumbai will remain open on September 3, the day of Janmashtami. September 8 is, however, the second Saturday and thus a holiday.
"Monday, September 3, is not a pan-India holiday for banks. Banks in some states will remain closed as per the Negotiable Instruments Act. This, however, will not impact the online banking transactions nor it will affect the operation of ATMs," said an HDFC Bank official.
Of the 31 regional and sub-offices of the RBI across the country, 16 will remain closed on September 3 on the occasion of Janmashtami, as per its website.
