M’lore: All Banks’ Christian Employees Assn Revels Decennial Year, Aims High

Mangalore : It all started with a small movement in the year 1998, against the decision of the Reserve Bank of India asking the Bank employees to work on Easter Sunday on account of Annual Closing of Bank Accounts. Immediately, Machcha Millar, founder, chairman and general secretary of All Banks’ Christian Employees Association (ABCEA), along with several like- minded friends working in banks in the City came together and started a signature campaign to protest against the directives issued by the RBI to the Public Sector Banks and Co-operative Banks in the State of Karnataka. The Christian Bank employees gave support for the cause in large numbers and as the first step of protest, they started sending telegrams to the RBI against the directive and finally the RBI was forced to concede and modify its directive. This made Millar and team to think that they should be ever ready and stay united by forming an Association to fight against such issues in future. So in the year 2001, they organized a Millennium Meet to seriously discuss about this matter. All the Bank employees extended support for forming an association. Finally, on August 22, 2001, the All Bank’s Christian Employees Association was formed. In the year 2004, the protest against the removal of Good Friday as a public Holiday by the Govt of Karnataka prevailed and they succeeded in retaining the holiday after a great fight, with good support from the media. Ronald Colaco and Philomena Peris also extended their support from Bangalore. Also, during that time there was severe criticism from the public that Bank employees were well placed in society and drawing a good salary; that they were comfortable with their Bank job and least bothered about helping Society, which had given them a lot. This also prompted them to form this Association and they thought they could tell the public that even in the midst of hectic work, they could find time to help the poor and the needy. They took this as a challenge and today are proud to say that by coming together they have done something to Society, if not everything. The activities conducted during the past 9 years and in the Decennial Year show their determination and commitment to help the weaker sections of society and to pay back to Society and make this World a better place to live in, for the less fortunate. The Association was formed with an intention to unite all Christian Bank Employees, working in Public/Private sector and cooperative Banks under one banner and with a sincere effort to serve the community and society at large through various community service activities and welfare measures.

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