Arunachal Forum Questions SBI Classification of Christian ST Customers
The Arunachal Christian Forum says SBI digital platforms wrongly place Christian ST customers in the General category during account opening and KYC updates.
The Arunachal Christian Forum has raised concerns about how State Bank of India’s digital systems classify Christian customers who belong to Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh.
In a letter to SBI’s Regional Manager in Itanagar, the forum alleged that some Christian members of constitutionally recognised Scheduled Tribes are being placed in the “General” category when they use the bank’s online services.
Issue reported on SBI digital platforms
The forum said the problem appears when customers open accounts or update their Know Your Customer details through the SBI YONO app and other digital banking platforms.
According to the organisation, a customer who selects “Christian” under the religion option may not get the choice to select “Scheduled Tribe” under the social category. The system then directs the user to the “General” category.
This can create trouble for customers who hold valid ST certificates. A form should make life easier, but this one seems to be asking people to choose between two parts of their identity that can exist together.
Forum says religion and tribal status are separate
The Arunachal Christian Forum described the classification as potentially discriminatory. It argued that a person does not lose Scheduled Tribe status simply because they follow Christianity.
The forum referred to the Scheduled Tribes Order of 1950. It said the order does not create a religion-based rule that removes ST status from a member of a notified tribe who becomes or remains Christian.
The organisation also stated that SBI is not the authority that decides whether a person should remain on the list of Scheduled Tribes. In its view, a customer with a valid ST certificate should not be moved to the General category based only on the religion entered in a bank form.
What the forum wants SBI to change
The forum has asked SBI to correct its software and review the process used on its banking apps and digital platforms.
Its key demand is that religion and tribal status should not be treated as options that cancel each other out. The forum wants customers to be able to select their religion and their correct social category without facing a system block.
It has also sought details of the steps SBI will take to fix the issue. The organisation asked for a response within 15 days of its letter.
Warning of protests if the issue continues
The forum warned that it may organise protests outside SBI branches across Arunachal Pradesh if the problem is not resolved within the stated time.
It said it would be compelled to gherao all SBI branches in the state. The term refers to a protest in which people surround an office or establishment to press for action.
The warning has added pressure on the bank to examine whether the problem comes from a software design choice, a KYC rule, or an error in the data fields used by its digital platforms.
SBI response is awaited
Senior SBI officials could not be reached for comment when the issue was reported. The bank has not publicly explained why its digital systems may be showing the General category to Christian customers from Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh.
The matter now rests on the bank’s review of its forms, account-opening process and KYC tools. Customers who face the issue may need to keep their ST certificates and other identity documents ready while seeking help from a branch.
