Banking operations hit in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 22 (IANS) Banking operations were on Tuesday hit across the state as members affiliated to nine unions in the public sector banks struck work protesting against reforms in the banking sector.

However, new generation banks were reported to be functioning normally.

A senior banking official attached to a leading public sector bank said that he came to the branch as usual and opened but later it was closed.

"All officials who are in the category of Scale 4 and above, besides those in probation, cannot participate in strikes. But all such people signed for the day and then left," said an official who did not wish to be identified.

In Kerala, while there are more than 5,000 branches in the public sector, the total number of branches in the private sector is under 250.

There were sizeable crowds in front of many ATMs and at some places, the cash was finished by noon. The worst affected were cheque clearing operations.