SHILLONG : Several bank branches that opened for business on Sunday across Meghalaya were forced to down their shutters following protests and visits by pressure groups opposing banking operations on the Christian day of worship.
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) and Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) carried out drives in different parts of the state, while the Achik Youth Welfare Organization led similar action across the five districts of Garo Hills.
The KSU, through its district, circle and unit-level wings, conducted checks across Khasi and Jaintia regions and forced the closure of branches of the State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Meghalaya Rural Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and UCO Bank.
The action was reported from Shillong, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills and the two Jaintia Hills districts.
In Garo Hills, the Achik Youth Welfare Organization led the shutdown drive across all five districts.
The KSU said the action was intended to send a message to banks and authorities about the importance of Sunday in Meghalaya.
“This action is to clearly demonstrate that Sunday is a sacred day with special meaning for Christian believers in our land,” the Union said in a statement.
The KSU said banks should respect Sunday so that employees can spend time with their families and attend religious services.
“We appeal to all banks to respect the special nature of this day so that employees also get time with their families and can fulfil their religious duties,” KSU assistant publicity secretary Pynshngaiñ Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi said.
Meanwhile, HITO said its central and district-level leaders visited branches of PNB, SBI, South Indian Bank, YES Bank, Canara Bank and Central Bank of India in Mawkyrwat, Dawki, Shillong, Mairang and other locations.
HITO said the organisation decided to visit branches after receiving information that some banks would remain open on Sunday.
“We decided to go to the branches that opened, to express our opposition and to urge the authorities to respect the sanctity of Sunday in Meghalaya,” the organisation said.
The pressure group also acknowledged the Ministry of Finance’s directive asking public sector banks and regional rural banks to operate on September 27 in view of the proposed nationwide bank strike from September 28 to 30.
The directive was intended to ensure the availability of banking services to the public ahead of the strike.
However, HITO said that while it understood the need to maintain banking services, such operations should not undermine the significance of Sunday in Meghalaya.
“While we understand the need to maintain banking services, running government or bank work should not undermine Sunday, which is a day for church service, worship, prayer and togetherness with family and society in Meghalaya,” HITO said.
The organisation urged the authorities to take Meghalaya’s religious and socio-cultural context into consideration when taking decisions related to Sunday banking.
The Sunday shutdown drive comes amid the wider nationwide banking strike scheduled from September 28 to 30, with the Ministry of Finance having directed certain banks to remain operational on September 27 to facilitate public convenience.