Woman drags 100-year-old mother on a cot to bank, SBI suspends Branch Manager

June 17: A 60-year-old woman dragged her 100-year-old mother in a cot to a bank for physical verification. Punjimati Dei visited the Bargaon branch of the Utkal Grameen Bank (UGB) in Odhisa to withdraw her mother’s  money under Jan Dhan Yojana. The branch manager had reportedly asked the woman that unless her mother comes by herself, the money can’t be given. The next day, that is, on 9 June, the 60-year-old woman dragged her mother on a charpoy (cot) to the bank. She was then able to withdraw her money. A video of Ms. Dei dragging her mother on a cot has since gone viral.

The State Bank of India (SBI), which is the largest stakeholder in Utkal Grameen Bank, immediately suspended manager Ajit Pradhan of Bargaon branch. The bank, however, clarified that the manager had offered to visit the woman’s house, but could not do so as there was a rush at the branch, which has only a single officer assigned to it.The SBI said a communication gap resulted in a display of inhuman and insensitive approach in the bank’s treatment of senior citizens.