Dateline Mussoorie: The residents of Landour are concerned about the decision of the Cantonment Board to auction the old Dandi-shed which has housed a branch of the State Bank of India, at Char Dukan for the past thirty years.
Hard-wired into the DNA of those to whom Landour is home is the existence of the State Bank of India located here. It has been a part and parcel of their lives for over three decades. All economic activities of the area are centred around the bank including the accounts of those living in the nearby villages or working in the Institute of Technology Management and the Cantonment Board itself.
Over the years, the bank has invested a considerable amount of public money on converting this abandoned Dandi-shed into the shape it is in today. Relocation of such a structure will mean waste of public money in these difficult times. Down the years, the bank has done yeoman service to the Cantonment residents. This includes women, children and old men from the nearby villages of Jaunpur. It has done so by giving them access to government schemes, not to be forgotten are the facilities extended to residents and tourists who come visiting .
This ill-conceived move will adversely affect the lives of those who live in the abutting villages of Mawana, Kolti, Kanda and Ladoor. Sabal Singh of Mawaana speaks for all the villagers when he points out: “Instead of moving the bank further towards the town, why don’t they bring the bank closer to the villages? We are ready to sit in protest and fight this move tooth and nail!”
CEO, Landour, Abhishekh Rathore assures us. “We propose to move the bank to the Cantonment Board premises which is only 50 meters from where the original bank stands. The ATM will remain as it is, at Char dukan.”
Char dukan was once known for its four shops, a Bank, a Telephone Booth and a Post Office, the last two have vanished without a trace. The Bank seems all set to go that way too. Once again, market forces seems to be winning over social responsibility. At least for the time being.
