The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka rural bank staff follow Mahatma’s footsteps

The Dharwad-headquartered Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (a regional rural bank sponsored by Syndicate Bank) is on a “wear khadi movement”. In its efforts to promote the use of khadi, the staff members at its head office in Dharwad wear khadi every Monday.

Mr M. Dhananjaya, Chairman, told Business Line that it was a voluntary initiative by the staff at the bank. “If we wear khadi and promote it, it will inspire others to wear it. Every staff at the head office wears khadi on Mondays,” he said.

Mr I.T. Sethuraman, General Manager, said that the bank’s intention is to persuade staff members in all branches to wear khadi once in a week.

Mr G.A. Puranik, an official at the bank, said that being the employees of a regional rural bank, it is their responsibility to encourage the use of khadi among people.

Mr Ullas Gunaga, another official, said that khadi has the capacity to mitigate the economic conditions of the people. When compared with the entire cloth produced in the country, percentage of khadi produced is meagre at less than one per cent. “In spite of this dismal figure, it is to be noted that it provides employment to about 15 lakh people. Under such circumstances, should the production rise to even 10 per cent, it is quite clear that crores of people would be benefited with employment opportunities,” he said.

Lending help

According to him, the employees of grameena banks are duty-bound to improve the living conditions of the rural people, small and marginal farmers, rural artisans and small businessmen.

“Khadi is our close associate, as it provides employment to thousands of poor people, enabling them to have a square meal. Since it is our ultimate aim also, we should actively encourage the use of khadi, not with mere words but by actually wearing khadi clothes,” he said, adding that when one person buys khadi, the person making the cloth earns his livelihood for a week.

Quoting his experience, Mr Gunaga said the staff members, who buy khadi for official use, would also buy something for their family members.

If they are satisfied with the quality, they would tell it to others and promote its use.

The bank, which has jurisdiction over nine districts in the State, has 408 branches and eight regional offices.

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