ASSOCHAM for greater clarity in FRDA Bill

With the government laying greater emphasis on protecting depositors' money, the ASSOCHAM on Thursday urged the same to be clearly and unambiguously spelt out in the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDA) Bill.

It further said the clause that seeks to treat depositors as other creditors and shareholders for bail- in must be removed.

The chamber said the panic among the bank depositors has arisen largely due to "bail - in" provisions in the FRDA Bill, something being tried for the first time in Indian financial markets. The intention seems to be that it should not always be the government which should take a hit for a bail- out of a bank in trouble; and let the shareholders and other stake holders, which include even the depositors (above the limit of insured amount) be responsible for saving a financial entity.

The government's assurance notwithstanding, Sub - section 7 of Section 52 of the proposed law clearly says that the ''bail-in'', to which depositors have strong objection to, shall not be applicable to deposits to the extent only covered by insurance. Now as of now, the deposits are covered only up to Rs 1 lakh, which is a measly sum for millions of middle class families which have kept their life time savings in bank deposits.

ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat said in the Indian context, the concept of ''bail in '' especially by depositors should be completely done away with and their monies in the banks have to be protected at any cost. Otherwise, the trust in the banking system runs the risk of being eroded and the savings by the households would find way into unproductive avenues like real estate, gold, jewellery and even in the unorganised and informal financial markets run by unscrupulous people".

Citing the case of middle class families, especially the pensioners and other old aged, ASSOCHAM noted that this stratum has no social security and the bank deposits are the only financial security out of their life time savings.

"In any case, the rising cost of health, which is mostly available in the private sector, is hurting this class. Any move to copy the western model of bail - in must be avoided," the ASSOCHAM said.