NEW DELHI: Public dealings at banks and public transport services were hit in several states, including in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which were impacted by the all-India strike called by central trade unions to protest the government’s labour and economic policies, including disinvestment and privatisation of public sector entities. However, essential services like healthcare, electricity and fuel supplies remained largely unaffected even as trade unions asserted that the strike was successful.
The trade unions — INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC — said over 20 crore workers, employees and rural labourers came out in “massive” protest action on the first day of the two-day strike on Monday. They claimed that workers and employees in banks and insurance companies did not enter their work places anywhere in India, while the coal, steel, post, oil, copper and telecom sectors workers also struck work.
Private sector banks, however, remained functional though services were disrupted due to delays in cheque clearances and government treasury operations. All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) said the impact was felt most strongly in eastern India where many branches of public sector banks remained closed. In other places, while branches were functional and officers present, their participation in the strike affected work. Bank unions are protesting the Budget announcement to privatise two public sector banks. They are also demanding an increase in interest rate on deposits and reduction in service charges.
Power sector workers also went on strike in all states, including Maharashtra, where the government had invoked ESMA. Electricity supply, however, was not disrupted.
Kerala state unions struck work from midnight on Sunday and the CTUs claimed that railways and defence sector employees organised “militant demonstrations” at over 1000 places across India.
A bandh-like situation prevailed in at least eight states due to the nationwide strike. These included Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andhra, Telangana, Odisha, Assam, Haryana and Jharkhand.
The forum of the central trade unions said agitations were also held in industrial areas across states like Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
Public transport was hit in Haryana as state roadways employees joined the strike.
The core committee of the All India Motor Transport Congress, the apex body for truckers, said that transportation of goods was not affected as AIMTC did not participate in the strike.
