Ahmedabad: State Congress spokesperson Dr. Manish Doshi raised questions over the recent recruitment of 660 clerks in the State Bank of India (SBI) in Gujarat. 70% of the candidates from other states were recruited, ignoring the rule of compulsory proficiency in the Gujarati language, the Congress Spokesperson claimed.

Doshi said that the State Bank of India had called for online applications for 660 posts of Junior Associate in May 2021 and then the examination was held in July 2021. Youngsters who pass this exam can be given a job only if they can read, write, understand and speak in the local language, i.e., Gujarati in the case of recruitments in Gujarat State. Despite such a rule, the State Bank of India has appointed more than 70 per cent of candidates who do not know how to write, read, speak or understand Gujarati due to irregularities. 

Doshi further explained that the purpose behind the rule of local language proficiency, i.e., Gujarati language in banks, including the State Bank of India, is to communicate easily with the customers of the bank. This rule was formed so that the bank’s customers could easily understand the service and better treatment could be given to them. Thus, regional language-proficient employees are kept for Class-II recruitment in every state. But this irregularity in the recruitment process will result in many hindrances in SBI’s functioning with their Gujarati customers.

The opposition party has demanded an impartial investigation into the massive irregularities and alleged scam in SBI recruitment. The party also demanded action against the responsible officials. Letters have been written to the PM, Finance Minister, RBI Governor, and SBI Chairman regarding the blatant violation of recruitment rules for Class-II in State Bank of India banks, said Congress spokesperson. DeshGujarat