Chennai: People riled by banks cutting flood money

CHENNAI: The state chose to distribute Rs 700 crore flood relief for 14 lakh beneficiaries through banks to avoid political intervention and corruption, but as an anticlimax several people have got a cut in their cash relief, thanks to nationalised banks.

They have deducted a sum from several account holders who have not maintained minimum balance for months.

According to informed sources Canara bank, Indian Bank and State Bank say that a minimum sum should be maintained by account holders ranging from Rs 500 onwards and in case of those with cheque book and debit card facilities this minimum amount is mandatory.

But as per banking norms whenever the account holder fails to maintain the said deposit, the centralised computer server will debit cash from the accounts. If the account reaches zero balance the savings account will default start recording credit balances, source said.

 “I don't have a cheque book and an ATM card. When I wanted to encash the relief of Rs 5,000 from my bank on Wednesday, the teller at the bank informed me that I can withdraw only up to Rs 4,100 and I was shocked and had a lengthy argument to understand the bank procedures,” said J. Lakhshmi, a Canara Bank account holder.

First they are debiting around Rs 400 for not maintaining the account for a few years and another Rs 500 as a minimum account balance, she explained.  

“Daily there are several cases and we the security staff find it difficult to handle such customers. Most of them leave the counter cursing the bankers”, said a security guard associated with State Bank in north Chennai.      

When contacted,  All-India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) general secretary C. H. Venkatchalam said all banks are having a computerised server and whenever an account holder fails to maintain the minimum sum, the cash will be debited automatically.

There are provisions to bale this out and the State should direct the district Collectors to send a circular to banks. On humanitarian  grounds, this amount should be waived, he opined. “Through AIBEA, we would also write to the banking consortiums in this regard to help the poor flood hit victims”, he said.