The security agencies across the country are distributing ATM cards to security guards who guard ATM machines but do not posses one. Generally these guards get their salaries through field officer or middle-man who takes a huge cut in the between.

The practice of giving ATM cards would mean a lot these employees who never get the actual salary they are entitled to receive. There are around 300 security agencies and sources report that 20% to 30% have issued ATM cards to their guards. An agency owner agrees with the fact and says, "Owners give money to field officers to pay guards their salaries. On some pretext, many field officers don't pay guards the full amount. Some tell me field officers make lakhs of rupees this way. We need to stop this. The best option is to transfer salaries to the bank and issue cards to guards."

A security guard with a top agency also points that, "Field officers are making money in lakhs and owners don't know about it. Even if all of us are given ATM cards, it's only because owners realize someone else is getting a cut out of the money meant for salaries."

A security guard working in an IT company said, "Some guards do have ATM cards, but the process of giving it to everyone is taking a lot of time. We hope all of us will get them. We can then be assured of getting our full salary."

However banks insist that the agencies should ensure on their bank account before issuing the cards as most of them either do not always have reserve funds or enough balance in their bank account. Commenting on the issue, owner of an agency said, "How many people have reserve cash? How many owners realize that field officers could be making money like this? Many owners don't know and don't care. They just want the job done and as long as they get what the client has agreed to give them, other things don't matter. Once they realize this, more ATM cards will be issued."

Banks are also making efforts on the similar issue and reaching out to the agencies. Country's largest private lender, ICICI Bank has taken a toll and other like Axis Bank, Corporation Bank and HDFC Bank are following in the trend.