Thiruvananthapuram: Despite several incidents of ATM frauds, a major chunk of the 9,000-odd ATM counters in the state still remain unmanned. Many banks, which earlier had security personnel at all ATMs, have scaled down the security over the years. Following the near-fatal attack on a woman in an ATM in Bangalore in November 2013, there was a strong demand from various quarters to ensure proper security at the ATMs of the State Bank group, which has the largest network of ATMs in the country.
Though the State Bank group had initiated tendering process for state-of-the-art electronic surveillance systems, it is yet to come into effect. While addressing a press conference here in 2014, SBI chairman Arundhathi Bhattacharya had said deploying security personnel at all the ATMs would involve huge cost. Hence the bank decided to set up advanced electronic security system with facilities to remotely shut down ATMs.
Mr. S. Adikesavan, SBT chief general manager (commercial banking), said that e-surveillance had already been installed in 250 ATM counters in the state. It enables detection of any suspicious activities in an ATM counter from remote locations. There were reports that the deployment of manned security guards at the ATMs was held up due to disputes among trade unions staking claims to recruitment. Implementation of electronic surveillance by more banks also came under protests as it posed job loss to thousands of security personnel.
Many banks, which earlier had security personnel at all off-site branches, have now reduced their number as part of cost cutting measures. “There are instructions from higher-ups to have security men only at sensitive ATMs. Hence many of our ATMs are at present unmanned,” said the senior manager of a leading nationalised bank. The situation in respect of many other banks is not different.
