FM Retweets ANI's Video of Distressed Elderly, Prompts SBI to Take Action

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday retweeted ANI's video of a distressed elderly citizen walking miles to reach an SBI Bank outlet to withdraw her pension. In her tweet, she also asked the bank to act 'humanely'.

Popular media outlet ANI posted the video on its Tweeter handle where senior citizen Surya Harijan could be seen walking a long distance barefoot while taking the support of a broken chair to collect her pension in Jharigaon district of Odisha.

The video also showed that the SBI manager concerened being aware of Harijan's broken finger condition, which is cumbersome while withdrawing money. It was retweeted by Sithraman with caption addressing the bank and Department of Financial Services (DFS) to look into the matter and asking for a 'Bank mitra'.

"Can see the manager of the @TheOfficialSBI responding but yet wish @DFS_India and @TheOfficialSBI take cognisance of this and act humanely. Are they no bank Mitra? @FinMinIndia (sic)," she wrote in her tweet.

Within minutes of her posting, the State Bank of India replied from its official handle through successive comments, saying "it is painful to see her situation." However, explaining the reason for Harijan's ordeal of visiting the bank, it said her finger prints do not match at the CSP point situated in her village every month.

The branch manager has communicated that Harijan's pension will be delivered at her doorstep from next month. "Her fingers are broken, so she is facing trouble withdrawing money. We'll resolve the problem soon," he assured. The bank has also mentioned that a wheelchair will be made available to her soon.