Banking operations hit, but bandh fails to affect public life in Chennai

However, SBI and Chennai-based Indian Overseas Bank branches were operational in many places, since those banks' union had has pulled out

Banking services in the country were paralysed on Friday as a strike call by various bank employees' associations received encouraging response, the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) claimed Friday. The Bharat bandh called by central trade unions has lukewarm response in Chennai and several parts of Tamil Nadu.

"The response to the strike call has been encouraging. Banking services were mostly paralised. Basic banking services were affected across the country," said C H Venkatachalam, general secretary, AIBEA in a statement today.

However, State Bank of India offices and Chennai-based Indian Overseas Bank branches were operational in many places, since those banks' union had has pulled out of the call to strike work, he said.

"All over India, around five lakh bank employees has went for strike today. Around 26 lakh cheques worth Rs 19,000 crore has not been transacted today across the country," he added.

Almost seven bank employees' and officers' unions had called for the strike in support of a 12 point charter of demands of the National Trade Union Convention (NTUC) and to oppose what they claim are anti-people economic policies and anti-worker labour reforms of the central government.

Besides, the unions said that they are opposing "retrograde" banking reforms like privatisation of banks, consolidation and merger of banks, allowing big corporates to start their own private banks, giving licences to corporate houses to start small private banks in rural areas, and deliberate inaction to recover huge bad loans in banks, among others.

Meanwhile, the Bharat bandh called for by the leftist central trade unions had lukewarm response in Chennai and many parts of Tamil Nadu.

Public transport was, by and large, unaffected in Chennai, while in some cities buses and three wheelers did not ply. In Chennai, most schools, shops, private offices and public services were operational. However, protest rallies were taken out in various parts of the state.

According to reports, inter-state buses from Tamil Nadu to Kerala were stopped at the border, as the protest in the left-ruled Kerala has disrupted normal life in that state.