• I Paid A Bribe
• 10 years ago
• 4204 views

Rourkela Bankers Clearing House is run by State Bank of India, Rourkela…

• Banking
• Subversion of Financial Norms
• Paid INR 300

Rourkela Bankers Clearing House is run by State Bank of India, Rourkela main branch in its premises.However, most of the work here is outsourced to contractual staff.Most of them are habitually corrupt.They are always on the lookout of making a fast buck.Individual banks through their staff participate in this daily cheque clearing process.

Though there are two staff of SBI present here, they prefer to look the other way.For helping bankers to dealing with any petty issue, the contractual staff who do most of the clearing work demand bribes, sometimes in a subtle way and sometimes directly.Their ringleader Pradeep Jaipuria is a serial drunkard.Most of the time he asks staff of other banks for money or to treat him to alcoholic drinks and dinner.

Sadly, senior members of other banks wilfully encourage him, instead of taking him to task.This further emboldens him.

I am a clerk in a nationalised bank in Rourkela.Since last year, Pradeep has been pestering me for a half bottle of whisky, after helping me in some routine cheque clearing work.I used to avoid him on some pretext or other.on many occasions he had threatened to return all the cheques that our bank presents, unless i do his bidding.

To avoid this I used to be extra cautious and dilligent about my work (i am in charge of all clearing work at my bank). However, today I failed to bring clearing data in my pen drive.He called me to his chamber and threatened to return my cheques.

Since i've earlier seen him helping staff of other banks in similar situation, i asked him to help me as well.But he was adamant and asked for his usual half bottle whisky.In a moment of weakness I agreed.My work was done.

I felt guilty for having agreed to his demand.i shared this story with my bank staff.They took it lightly, saying he might forget it, as on earlier occasions they had to face similar situation.I went for 2nd clearing of the day (Here CTS clearing hasn't started yet).i somehow avoided him all throughout.However, just as I was to go he misbehaved with me after I politely refused him.

Then another contractual staff called Bikash, came forward and tried talking to me.I threatened him that i would complain about the matter to the Branch Manager (Susanta Kumar Mishra Scale 4 SBI PO) . Bikash laughed saying that I and my bank would be in trouble if i did such a thing. All they would get would be some scolding and let off.On the other hand they had the power to harass me and my bank daily for cheque clearing process.Besides, other bank staff indulge them rather than reporting their corruption.

In the end I gave in and paid up.Both Bikash and Pradeep also agreed to help me in lieu of my payment for the next three months.Anytime after that if any mistake happens they would again require liquor, money etc.

If i being a staff of a nationalised bank face such a problem, then imagine the plight of an ordinary person.In my opinion clearing work should be done solely by bank staff rather than being outsourced.Secondly, alternate clearing arrangements should be done at another bank.No one bank should have the monopoly of clearing house at a place.last but not the least, any covert and overt bribe seeking should be strictly dealt with.

I could have gone to vigilance dept but felt the amount was too small.If I had gone to the Branch Manager, not much would have happened, since he would have supported them.I felt that if i antagonize them, i and the bank i work in might be harassed for cheque clearing. But i still have hope of doing something about it in the future if such a situation further arises.