I received a telephone call from the Training Center of Gramin (Rural) Bank. They wanted my services for a training program for their staff. It had been long while I was waiting for such an opportunity. Till now I had been conducting the program for the JCI. However, this time, the participants were bank officials, about their job I knew very little. Vivek Joglekar was a trainer in the same training center, came to my rescue. He explained me the details about the various aspects related to their job profiles and provided me with several printed materials. The four sessions that I conducted the next day anyhow, were soon forgotten. But within a few days, a surprise knocked at my door.
Mr.Badwelkar, Chairman, Shivpuri-Guna Gramin Bank, wrote me a letter asking me to conduct sessions at Shivpuri. On telephone inquiry, he apprised me that the Gramin Bank, as a subsidiary of State Bank had 70 branches in Guna and Shivpuri districts. These were running in huge losses. Their precarious condition could be guessed by the fact that they had only two months salary for their staff.
“I have great trust on training. I want all the officers to undergo training. I am confident that by doing so we shall be able to save the sinking ship. We can not depute all our officers to Bilaspur Training Center hence we have decided to call you, though there is no budget for conducting such courses in our guidelines. Please do come”, He said.
“Then, why do you invite me?”
“Our two officers who had attended your training at Bilaspur gave me good feedback about you. This has encouraged us. Let me know how much you will charge?”
“Whatever you pay”. I replied.
The training program for officers was conducted in the auditorium of Municipal committee Hall at Shivpuri which lasted two days. There were discussions on developing leadership competence, teamwork, motivation etc. These banks were not authorized to have commercial transactions. They were supposed to associate villagers with the bank for rural cash depositor grant loans. Thus in the absence of profitable transactions, those branches were running into losses. This was further devastated by the lethargy of officers and their subordinates too.
A memorable incident took place the following day. Mr.Sarkhel, I.A.S. Collector, Shivpuri, was invited to address. These banks function under government control hence Collector’s goodwill was a prerequisite. After addressing the gathering for around two minutes, he was about to leave, when I requested him to wait for just fifteen minutes and see how the orientation is conducted. He hesitated a little and then agreed. I began speaking about “Motivation”.
I was speaking about the internal resources for motivation to the participants, “This is a fact that you work under adverse circumstances. To persuade illiterate villagers and make them approach the bank is a challenging task. You don’t have a decent office or electricity. You have wade through muddy roads and pass through fields. Yet you have a power which even the Collector does not have”. This made the audience curious. Turning my face to the Collector, I asked, “Sir, please tell me, do you have any direct power to help a needy person with Rs.5,000/- assistance?”
After little unease, he said, “No, we don’t have any direct power”.
“But sir, every officer in this auditorium can promptly help villagers from Rs.5,000/- to 15 Lakhs loan assistance and can make a drastic change in their lives. Now tell me who is more powerful, you or these officers sitting in front of us?”
He smiled and raising both the hands towards the participants said, “They”. The auditorium got electrified which made everyone present enlightened. Their faces lit up with a glow. Our two days long orientation got crystallized in just one example. The lesson lasted one and half hour and the Collector attended the full session listening with keen interest and curiosity. While leaving he said, “Conduct one such program for our officers too”.
“I will be available anytime, Sir”, I assured him.
After completion of the program, I received an envelope with a note of apology and thanks from the chairman informing me, “We are not in a position to compensate you enough for what you have done for us. Please accept this token honorarium as a gift.” I readily accepted the envelope and took leave of them. I was lodged at a grand resort at Shivpuri. Reaching my room I opened the envelope to find Rs.12, 000/-. This program was in September 1993 and at that time this was quite a substantial sum. This was my highest remuneration, so far I had to be content with just Rs. 250/-. I was elated due to the fact that the training proved effective and my endeavors were making a difference in some one’s work culture.
In October 1993 a training program for officers and personnel of same Gramin bank posted in Guna district was organized. This was followed by a program in January 1994 for preparing their permanent trainers. Thus I had addressed three programs within five months! Oh, what a fortune!
In April 1994 at a conference held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the Chairpersons of the every branch of Gramin Banks presented their financial statements and a report on activities of each branch. The chairman of Shivpuri-Guna Gramin Bank apprised that the bank accrued annual profit to the tune of Rs.2 Crores. All other chairpersons were not only awe- struck but also raised doubts. One of them asked, “Mr.Bidwelkar, in August-September, there was a rumor that you were not able to pay salary to your staff and now you present a report showing the profit of Rs. 2 Crores, what was the magic?”
“The magician resides in Bilaspur”, Mr.Bidwelkar replied.
Mr.Badwelkar, Chairman, Shivpuri-Guna Gramin Bank, wrote me a letter asking me to conduct sessions at Shivpuri. On telephone inquiry, he apprised me that the Gramin Bank, as a subsidiary of State Bank had 70 branches in Guna and Shivpuri districts. These were running in huge losses. Their precarious condition could be guessed by the fact that they had only two months salary for their staff.
“I have great trust on training. I want all the officers to undergo training. I am confident that by doing so we shall be able to save the sinking ship. We can not depute all our officers to Bilaspur Training Center hence we have decided to call you, though there is no budget for conducting such courses in our guidelines. Please do come”, He said.
“Then, why do you invite me?”
“Our two officers who had attended your training at Bilaspur gave me good feedback about you. This has encouraged us. Let me know how much you will charge?”
“Whatever you pay”. I replied.
The training program for officers was conducted in the auditorium of Municipal committee Hall at Shivpuri which lasted two days. There were discussions on developing leadership competence, teamwork, motivation etc. These banks were not authorized to have commercial transactions. They were supposed to associate villagers with the bank for rural cash depositor grant loans. Thus in the absence of profitable transactions, those branches were running into losses. This was further devastated by the lethargy of officers and their subordinates too.
A memorable incident took place the following day. Mr.Sarkhel, I.A.S. Collector, Shivpuri, was invited to address. These banks function under government control hence Collector’s goodwill was a prerequisite. After addressing the gathering for around two minutes, he was about to leave, when I requested him to wait for just fifteen minutes and see how the orientation is conducted. He hesitated a little and then agreed. I began speaking about “Motivation”.
I was speaking about the internal resources for motivation to the participants, “This is a fact that you work under adverse circumstances. To persuade illiterate villagers and make them approach the bank is a challenging task. You don’t have a decent office or electricity. You have wade through muddy roads and pass through fields. Yet you have a power which even the Collector does not have”. This made the audience curious. Turning my face to the Collector, I asked, “Sir, please tell me, do you have any direct power to help a needy person with Rs.5,000/- assistance?”
After little unease, he said, “No, we don’t have any direct power”.
“But sir, every officer in this auditorium can promptly help villagers from Rs.5,000/- to 15 Lakhs loan assistance and can make a drastic change in their lives. Now tell me who is more powerful, you or these officers sitting in front of us?”
He smiled and raising both the hands towards the participants said, “They”. The auditorium got electrified which made everyone present enlightened. Their faces lit up with a glow. Our two days long orientation got crystallized in just one example. The lesson lasted one and half hour and the Collector attended the full session listening with keen interest and curiosity. While leaving he said, “Conduct one such program for our officers too”.
“I will be available anytime, Sir”, I assured him.
After completion of the program, I received an envelope with a note of apology and thanks from the chairman informing me, “We are not in a position to compensate you enough for what you have done for us. Please accept this token honorarium as a gift.” I readily accepted the envelope and took leave of them. I was lodged at a grand resort at Shivpuri. Reaching my room I opened the envelope to find Rs.12, 000/-. This program was in September 1993 and at that time this was quite a substantial sum. This was my highest remuneration, so far I had to be content with just Rs. 250/-. I was elated due to the fact that the training proved effective and my endeavors were making a difference in some one’s work culture.
In October 1993 a training program for officers and personnel of same Gramin bank posted in Guna district was organized. This was followed by a program in January 1994 for preparing their permanent trainers. Thus I had addressed three programs within five months! Oh, what a fortune!
In April 1994 at a conference held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the Chairpersons of the every branch of Gramin Banks presented their financial statements and a report on activities of each branch. The chairman of Shivpuri-Guna Gramin Bank apprised that the bank accrued annual profit to the tune of Rs.2 Crores. All other chairpersons were not only awe- struck but also raised doubts. One of them asked, “Mr.Bidwelkar, in August-September, there was a rumor that you were not able to pay salary to your staff and now you present a report showing the profit of Rs. 2 Crores, what was the magic?”
“The magician resides in Bilaspur”, Mr.Bidwelkar replied.
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