WINDS OF CHANGE

Before I conclude, I would like to say a few words about recruitment and training of staff. The success of deposit mobili­sation programme and extension of banking services, whether in urban or rural areas, will depend very largely on the extent to which banks are able to. recruit the right type of people and give them proper training and orientation. The proc6s of recruitment should be such that it attracts the most suitable talent to the industry. The policy and procedure of recruitment will have to be tailored for this purpose. It would be in the interest of the nationalised banks to devise some common arrangements for recruitment and training. The clerical staff can be recruited on a regional basis, as distinguished from a centralised basis, through a body set up jointly by the banks functioning in each region and the recruit­ment of Class IV staff can be left to the local units. In the matter of training also, some common arrangements will have to be thought of as the programme for branch expansion proceeds at a fast pace. There are apprehensions that man-power limitations might make it difficult to keep up the tempo of expansion in the coming months. The existing arrangements in some of the banks are not designed for large-scale training of employees in the offices or for building cadres of field staff to ensure timely recovery of loans and it may not be practicable for each individual bank to expand the facilities they have in a reasonably economical way. Some of you have the requisite facilities to increase the turn-out of trainees to meet your own needs, but you should also lend a helping hand to the other banks. Some coordinated efforts in this direction are necessary, and I am sure you will give this matter your urgent consideration.