A 39-year-old SBI manager was denied leave by higher-ups despite being tested positive for Covid-19, succumbs to the illness.
Despite repeated requests for leave, the SBI manager was not sanctioned leave for his treatment to fight Covid-19.
A shocking news came alive when a SBI branch manager died of COVID-19, just because his request for leave denied by higher officials. P. Rajesh, SBI branch manager at Vizag, died of Coronavirus at hospital just because his continuous request for leave were turned down by the higher officials. This mishap prove to be a shock for whole banking community.
A 39-year-old banker in Vizag had fever and some symptoms of COVID but despite this he was refused to go on a leave. Several banking employee unions across the country have condemned the manner in which the higher authorities at the bank allegedly treated Pitta Rajesh- rejecting his leave on multiple occasions before his demise.
The SBI officers association has claimed that despite repeated request for leave due to the visible symptoms of COVID, a young banker was denied to have it. Employee unions have now called for stringent action to be taken against higher officials after Rajesh’s death.
The SBI Officers Association (Amaravati Circle) has written a letter to the General Secretary of the SBI Officers’ Association located in Tirupati, alleging violation of COVID-19 guidelines by the bank’s higher authorities. According to the association, 39-year-old Pitta Rajesh, Branch Manager of Agency Laxmipuram died of COVID-19.
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The association says that Rajesh was in touch with them in the last few days before his death. The association has alleged that the Regional Manager and the Human Resource Manager are responsible for Rajesh’s death. According to the association, they believes that if the decision has been taken timely ot could have save Rajesh’s life. According to the association, Rajesh was suffering from a fever from August 25.
The field officer of the branch was also unwell and as Branch Manager, Rajesh immediately sanctioned leave to the field officer when he tested positive on August 28, states the association in its letter. The association alleges that Rajesh was infomed to show his positive report toward Covid in order to request for a leave. The association goes on to allege that Rajesh was forced to work even despite fever and symptoms of COVID-19.
When the result of the rapid test returned positive, Rajesh immediately informed the higher officials and requested for leave. However, even after testing positive, the request for leave was turned down by both the Regional Manager and the HR Manager, alleged the association. Meanwhile, the two managers asked for a copy of the report as proof for the leave to be processed.
On September 2, when Rajesh received a printed copy of the result, he submitted the same following which his leave was sanctioned. The association alleges that by then Rajesh’s health has drastically deteriorated. Rajesh was later admitted to a government General Hospital in Kakinada for treatment. Even during treatment, according to the association, he was directed to attend review meetings online.
Rajesh’s death has sparked outrage among bank employee unions. The United Forum of Bank Unions took to Twitter alleging that Rajesh’s death was a murder. They warned that they would protest in front of the Chief Minister’s office if a case was not registered by the Andhra police.
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