Aizawl: Branches of public sector banks and the Mizoram Rural Bank remained open across Mizoram on Sunday despite objections from the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) and the Council of Churches in Mizoram (CCM) over the decision to open banks on a day observed as a weekly day of worship by the state’s predominantly Christian population.In Aizawl, branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) and Mizoram Rural Bank were open, although only a few customers were seen at the banks. A similar situation was reported in district headquarters, towns and sub towns across the state.The response was weaker in rural areas. At the SBI branch in Saitual, no customers turned up despite all staff being present, according to Madawnga Khiangte, who visited the branch on Sunday.No untoward incident was reported in connection with the opening of the banks.The Sunday opening was ordered as part of arrangements ahead of the nationwide strike by bank employees’ unions scheduled from Sept 28 to 30. The move was intended to ensure continuity of banking services and prevent inconvenience to customers during the three-day strike.However, the decision drew flak from CYMA, the state’s largest civil society organisation, and CCM, a conglomerate of nine churches.The CYMA said it did not oppose uninterrupted banking services but questioned the need to apply the Sunday opening arrangement to Mizoram, where most of the population is Christian. It urged the Union finance ministry, the Reserve Bank of India, banking authorities and the state govt to reconsider the decision in view of the state’s religious context.The organisation suggested alternatives such as extending banking hours, strengthening ATM services, expanding digital banking facilities or providing emergency banking services for people with urgent requirements.The CCM also opposed the Sunday opening while acknowledging that the arrangement was aimed at reducing public inconvenience during the bank employees’ strike.The church body said Sunday was an important religious day for the majority of Mizoram’s population, when Christians attend worship services. It objected to arrangements that, in its view, could interfere with the observance of the day and the religious freedom guaranteed under the Constitution.The CCM appealed to the authorities to avoid taking similar decisions in future that could interfere with the observance of Sunday by Christians in the state.
