No clear policy to promote all-women bank branches: Par Panel

Government has no clear-cut policy to promote all-women bank branches in the public sector and the industry lacks the necessary impetus to open more such centres, a Parliamentary panel said.
The Committee on Empowerment of Women tabled its report on "Working Conditions of Women in Public Sector Banks" in Lok Sabha today.
Stressing that all-women branches cater to multiple needs of women customers better, the Committee noted that such branches provide women employees with a much safer and convenient working environment free from inhibitions.
"Some banks are in the process of opening more such branches in near future... It is unclear from the responses of the Ministry (of Finance) as to what policy framework they have in place with regard to opening of all-women branches," said the report.

The panel suggested that the government should direct all public sector banks to ensure that at least 15 per cent of their branches are all-women centres.
"Thus, it will make womenfolk feel comfortable to access a banking system that is devoid of gender biases as well as non-discriminatory towards them," it said.

As of now, 17 public sector banks have opened a total 301 all-women branches.
The Department of Financial Services, under the Finance Ministry, in its reply to the Committee said that banks are exploring the feasibility of opening more all-women branches.
The committee said it expected to see a spurt in numbers in the not-so-distant future to set off a transition in the country's banking industry.

Appreciating the banks' efforts, the panel said, "PSBs are not entirely oblivious to the vital need of creating more all-women branches in the country, yet the necessary impetus it deserves to hasten the process to open more such branches is sorely missing in the context of country's banking industry."
Indian Overseas Bank and State Bank of India have so far opened 60 and 119 all-women branches respectively. Most of the other PSBs have done precious little towards establishing adequate number of all-women branches as was desired by the Committee, the report said.
The committee said banks may rope in NGOs and charitable

organisations for quality creche services.
However, monthly reimbursement of Rs 500 per child given by banks to working mothers is inadequate, it said, adding that the amount be raised in line with rates charged by creches.
Provision of creche and day care facilities is of utmost importance as availability of these facilities is "undeniably linked with the performance of women employees and the larger well-being of the children of working mothers", it said.
The panel appreciated United Bank of India for going a step ahead by making available trained nurses at the creches.
On flexible work hours, the panel had suggested the government to work out the modalities, but it was saddened as there was no enthusiastic response.

"Committee is unhappy to note that the government has failed to apprehend the essence of such a recommendation and instead largely cited a host of operational issues, job role of officers and unsubstantiated preference of customers in rural/semi urban areas as reasons to go slow in implementing the policy
"The Committee is also perturbed to note the seemingly unreserved submission that State Bank of India, country's leading bank, considers it unfeasible on its part to provide work place and work hour flexibility to women employees, particularly to those who work at branches in customer related services," it said.
The panel also noted that banking system in India is still grossly tilted towards urban centres.

It said efforts should be made to open new branches in rural and Northeastern parts and finding out innovative ways to attract more women to banking sector from NE to ensure their equal participation.