Banking operations hit in Ker as 30,000 employees go on strike

: Banking operations came to a standstill in Kerala today with about 30,000 employees and officers of various banks participating in a two-day nation-wide strike protesting against the two per cent wage hike offered by the Indian Banks Association.

Functioning of 5,200 branches in the state was hit due to the strike.

In the state capital, as part of the agitation, employees took out a march from Fine Arts College at Palayam to State Bank of India's city branch near the Secretariat.

According to All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) Joint Secretary, K S Krishna, ATMs had been loaded fully yesterday and customers were unlikely to be hit due to the strike.

However, many people complained that several ATMs had gone dry yesterday itself and they found it difficult to meet emergency needs.

Nearly 10 lakh employees, working in various branches of 21 public sector banks, 13 old generation private sector banks, six foreign banks and 56 regional rural banks across the country are on strike protesting the nominal wage revision.