AGARTALA, March 15 (TIWN): Protests have been staged against privatization of Banks in Tripura.

This was a part of nationwide protest in Tripura against new banking reforms by privatizing banks.

Employees of nationalised banks under All India Nationalised Banks Officers' Federation stage a two-day protest against privatization of Public Sector Banks.

10 lakh bank employees, part of the United Forum of Bank Unions have been protesting in the country for the last month and have now called for a two-day nationwide bank strike on March 15-16. 

With banks having been shut on Saturday and Sunday, banking operations will now be hit over a four-day period.  WHICH SERVICES WILL BE AFFECTED BY BANK STRIKE TODAY? Services such as deposits and withdrawal at branches, cheque clearance and loan approvals would be affected due to the strike. However, ATMs may continue to function normally. Many public sector lenders, including the State Bank of India (SBI), have informed their customers that their normal working could be affected at the branches and offices if the strike materialises.

Banks have also informed that they are taking necessary steps for the smooth functioning of bank branches and offices. Services of private banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank and IndusInd Bank that account for about one-third of banking services are expected to remain normal. WHY ARE BANK EMPLOYEES ON A STRIKE?

The March bank strike comes after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the privatisation of two public sector banks (PSBs) as part of the government's disinvestment plan as part of the 2021 Union Budget.  The government has already privatised IDBI Bank by selling its majority stake in the lender to LIC in 2019 and has merged 14 public sector banks in the last four years.