🧠In a tragic and heart-wrenching incident from Baramati in Pune district, a 52-year-old branch manager of Bank of Baroda, Shivshankar Mitra, died by suicide inside his own bank branch. Mitra, originally from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, was posted at the Bhigwan Road branch. According to the police, he ended his life late Thursday evening inside his office at the branch.
The incident has not only shaken the banking community but also raised serious questions about the mounting mental stress and work pressure in India’s public sector banking system.
📄 The Suicide Note: A Cry for Empathy
In his note, Shivshankar Mitra clearly stated:
“I, Shivshankar Mitra, Branch Manager of Bank of Baroda, am ending my life due to excessive work pressure. I request the bank not to place unnecessary pressure on employees. Every staff member works with full dedication and gives their 100%.”
He also mentioned that his decision was entirely voluntary, absolving his family of any blame. In his final words, he apologized to his wife and daughter and requested, “Please forgive me. If possible, donate my eyes.”
💼 5 Days Before Suicide – He Had Requested VRS
Reportedly, five days before his suicide, Mitra had written to the bank requesting Voluntary Retirement (VRS) due to the overwhelming stress. However, there was no response from the management. Feeling unheard, hopeless, and mentally broken, he took the extreme step.
⚠️ What This Incident Reveals About the Banking System
This tragedy is not just about one individual. It reveals a much deeper problem:
- Excessive workload
- Unrealistic targets
- Inadequate staffing
- Poor emotional support systems
- Lack of mental health awareness
These issues are not new, but they’re rarely acknowledged or addressed openly—especially in public sector banks.
🔍 What Causes Mental Health Decline in Bank Employees?
Let’s explore the root causes that are plaguing India’s bank employees:
1. 🎯 Target Culture
Bank officers are under constant pressure to meet sales targets—insurance, loans, CASA, credit cards—regardless of staff shortages or customer footfall.
2. 🧍♂️ Staff Crunch
Many branches operate with minimum manpower. One person often ends up doing the work of three, especially in semi-urban or rural branches.
3. 📲 Constant Digital Overload
New technologies and digital tools are introduced frequently, but without adequate training, causing frustration and errors.
4. 😠 Customer Abuse
Bank staff face verbal abuse from customers daily, especially during busy hours or policy-related disputes.
5. ⚖️ Compliance Anxiety
A minor mistake in documentation or transaction can lead to disciplinary action, affecting careers and mental peace.
💬 What Do Employees Say?
After this tragic news surfaced, banking forums and WhatsApp groups were flooded with emotional responses from peers:
“We are no longer employees, we are robots meeting deadlines.”
“Even when sick, we’re expected to report to duty. Leave approvals are a luxury.”
These are not isolated feelings—they reflect the lived reality of thousands of bank employees.
🛡️ What Can Be Done to Prevent Such Tragedies?
✅ 1. Mental Health Support Systems
- Confidential counseling for employees
- Regular wellness sessions
- Mental health days, like casual or sick leave
✅ 2. Responsive VRS Mechanism
When an employee requests voluntary retirement citing stress or mental health, it should be treated as an emergency, not paperwork.
✅ 3. Target Redesign
Sales and performance metrics should include human-centric KPIs, not just numbers.
✅ 4. Workload Reallocation
Branches facing staffing issues must receive temporary reinforcements instead of expecting miracles.
✅ 5. Sensitization of Leadership
Executives and zonal heads must be trained in emotional intelligence and recognize burnout symptoms among staff.
📊 RBI, IBA & Government: Need for Structural Reform
Banking unions, regulators like RBI, and government agencies need to look beyond profitability and recognize that their most valuable asset is their people.
Some urgent reforms could be:
- Mandatory mental health audit of branches
- Defined workload per employee per branch type
- Mental health leave allocation
- Transparent grievance redressal mechanisms
- Zero tolerance for workplace bullying or micromanagement
🙏 His Eyes Were Donated—Can His Message Open Our Eyes Too?
In his final message, Shivshankar Mitra wrote:
“If possible, donate my eyes.”
He didn’t just offer physical vision—he gifted us a perspective. A glimpse into the silent suffering of thousands of honest, hardworking bank employees.
Now the question is:
“Will we open our eyes before another tragedy happens?”
💡 What Can You Do as a Reader?
- 💬 If you’re an employee: Speak up, seek help, support each other
- 💻 If you’re a customer: Be empathetic, bank staff are humans too
- 🧑💼 If you’re in leadership: Be approachable, act quickly on red flags
- 🏛 If you’re a policymaker: Create safeguards, not just sales goals
🧭 Conclusion
This isn’t just a story of a banker who ended his life—it’s the story of a system that pushed him to the edge. It’s about a culture that sees employees as performers, not people.
Shivshankar Mitra’s final note is not just a suicide letter. It’s a mirror.
Let’s ensure that no other employee writes a farewell from their workplace.
“In the race to meet deadlines, let’s not lose lives.”
