JAIPUR, May 15: Undaunted and unperturbed by threats of economic hardships and dire consequences of economic sanctions, some ordinary citizens - employees at a local branch of a bank - decided to lend the government a hand to help tide over the problem.While experts and authorities were busy formulating an appropriate response to the economic sanctions, the employees of State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur at Chandpol branch here donated a day's salary to the Prime Minister's relief fund.Every staffer, from the safai karmachari to the branch manager, 38 in all, has contributed to the fund. Branch manager S C Bhatia said the total collection was Rs 12,243.More important than the amount was the spirit demonstrated by the gesture. Bhatia said within a day he received calls from over a dozen industrial and commercial establishments wanting to know how to go about contributing money to the fund. "We told them they could come to us and we would help prepare and send the demand drafts, for which thebank does not charge any commission," said Bhatia.He said they learnt of the nuclear tests in the evening and along with it came news of the sanctions. The next morning, a meeting was held. Everyone expressed confidence in the nation's strength and its capacity to face any such eventuality. No one was bothered by the sanctions."We decided to make a beginning by contributing a day's salary to the PM's fund. We can do much more if required. This was just a token gesture," said the bank guard Sawai Singh.Sawai Singh, an ex-serviceman who was with 15 Grenadiers, fought in Shakargarh sector in the 1971 war and got a job with the bank after retirement in January 1990. "This is just a small way to help the country in its time of need. We can give our lives, fight till the last breathe if need be," he exclaimed."We heard about the warnings, and decided to show what we are made of. We are not going to lose heart, sit and worry about what would happen to us,"he added.Clerk cashier V K Singhal said if 100crore Indians contributed a day's earnings for the country, we could meet any eventuality, any threat."This is a time to get up and act. There is no need to bother about foreign assistance. We do not need the USA to live and progress .. we do not need their help . we can withstand any kind of pressure," added Singhal.
