Don't believe in 'rumours' on VRS, Nabard tells employees

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has asked its employees not to believe in “rumours” by “black sheep” and a “self-appointed saviour” on the launch of a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) in the country’s apex development bank.

Bank chairman Prakash Bakshi sent out a communication last week to 5,000-plus colleagues, appealing them not to be “misled” by such “misinformation campaign”, instead stay together for Nabard’s growth.

The hard-hitting communication dated October 5 said the management was “seriously concerned and pained” over the “rumour mongering” in Nabard and its possible negative impact. “Immediately after our last board meeting held on September 22, almost all executive directors, chief general managers and other office-bearers were flooded with telephone calls by staff members across the country that the Board has approved VRS and people will be sent home. Who spread these rumours?” he asked.

“Let me say with authority that ever since I took over the role of team leader of Nabard, the word VRS has not been even uttered by me or by any directors or executive directors, or other office bearers. Even the thought of having VRS has not arisen in our minds.”

Further, Bakshi wanted to locate the black sheep “desperately trying to disrupt” the Nabard family. “Let us remember that such black sheep are capable of spreading rumours. I appeal to all team members not to be misled by such rumours...”

Instead, Bakshi assured the employees that the board of directors would continue to take decisions which are in the bank’s interests as well as its members.

The Nabard boss said the bank had, in fact, decided to create supernumerary vacancies to promote people at the earliest. From 2012, staff members eligible for promotion in the first half of the calendar year would be promoted on January 1 itself. July 1 will be the pertinent date for such case in the second half of any year — even if it required creating temporary supernumerary vacancies.

Bakshi said 1982-founded Nabard required new ideas to solve old problems. “We need to join hands with other entities and convert them into willing partners. We need to set almost impossible deadlines and resolve to adhere to them. And the fact is that Team Nabard is capable of all this.”