-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Consumers upset about functioning of nationalised Bank -------------------------------------------------------- A public awareness meeting called at short notice by the Betalbatim Civic & Consumer Forum(BCCF), drew a large crowd of approximately two hundred worried and irate bank customers on Tuesday morning. The meeting was called in the wake of two large frauds at the Betalbatim branch of Bank of Baroda within a span of a few months and several other complaints of malpractices, as also to acquaint the public of the implications of Core Banking introduced at the Branch the previous day.
The BCCF Convenor Xavier Cota in his introductory talk took the customers through what Core Banking would mean to them. He warned villagers that if average balances of at least Rs. 1000/- was not maintained the computer could well wipe out their small savings. He briefly mentioned that frauds of Rs. 2,00,000/- and Rs. 9,78,000/- in quick succession could not have taken place without bypassing established bank practices or insider involvement or both. Antonetta D'Cunha narrated the trauma she had to undergo when Rs. 2 lakhs disappeared from her account and how she received only lip sympathy from the branch staff and the money was only restored after a police complaint and threat to expose the matter to the press. Hillary Cota described how his threat to use strong-arm methods produced the desired results. Susanna Falcao related how she had to virtually shout several times to get her pass-book entries updated, as the printer was out of order for over 3 months. Wilson Carvalho described how nearly Rs. Ten lakhs were lifted from his relative's account, when he had trustingly parted with his cheque book to a staff to fill in the details, as he had forgotten to bring his spectacles. Thanking the public for coming in such large numbers, a forum volunteer also asked the police who were present, to convey the Forum's happiness to PI Colaco, at the news in the press that he expects a breakthrough in the case shortly. The bank was cautioned that if they did not follow correct banking procedure and post honest staff, who could communicate with villagers in Konkani, they may lose their customers and even have to make room for some other bank in the village. He concluded by exhorting the Bank to refund the defrauded amount immediately or the Forum would be forced to call for a much bigger public meeting as villagers would not take things lying down. ---------------------------------------------------------- Press Release from Betalbatim Civic & Consumer Forum. Email your response to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ---------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ---------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------