Exempt bank officials from election duty: NOBW requests EC

National Organisation of Bank Workers has requested Election Commission to exempt banking officials from forthcoming assembly elections as they continue to be busy with post demonetisation activity and have to do financial closure.
NOBW is an industrial federation of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh.
In a memorandum to the EC, it said: "We request to the Finance Minister and Chief Election Commissioner to exempt bank employees and officers from the election duties otherwise banking will be effected and employees will be under tremendous pressure and stress."
NOBW Vice President Ashwani Rana said bank employees have worked 12 to 18 hours during the last 50 days on account of demonetisation, and are still working extra hours to finish the pending work of tallying details of old currency notes and related work.

Besides, they have to work further on account of financial year closing by March 2017.
Elections are to be held in five states from next month.
Assembly elections in the politically-crucial Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur will be held between February 4 and March 8 in what will be the first major test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gamble on demonetisation.