Bharat bandh: Essential services partially hit in various states

Banking, road transport hit in Delhi, Kerala, Kolkata and other states

Trade unions' nation wide strike over NDA's proposed amendments in Labor laws being observed in Delhi (Photo: ANI)

Essential services such as banking and road transport were partially hit on Wednesday due to the day-long nationwide strike called by 10 major central trade unions (TUs).

In the national capital, auto rickshaw drivers were seen demanding more fares even as most of them were on strike.

Around 2,000 banking and insurance employees took out a march in central Delhi to protest the proposed changes in labour laws. Industrial pockets such as those in Gurgaon were also impacted as workers didn't turn up for work.

Central trade union leaders have already termed the strike successful.

“The strike has been very successful. The road transport sector in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and also in Delhi are completely protesting. Many industrial belts are also shut,” said All India Trade Union Congress’s D L Sachdev.

Sangh Parivar-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the second largest trade union in the country, is not participating in the strike as they were happy with the government's proposals. Despite BMS backing out, trade unions expect this to be the biggest ever nationwide strike. 

In their previous strike in February 2013, 100 million workers had participated, trade unions claimed. 

Apart from BMS, National Front of Indian Trade Unions is also not participating in the strike.

In Chennai, road transport was normal while there were reports of some attempts to disturb rail transport. Some of the banks, including Indian Overseas Bank, State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda, were open, although the All India Bank Employees Association claimed that the bank strike has been a success across the country. 

Some of the manufacturing units in the state were closed, while most shops remained open for business. 

In Kolkata, government buses were plying normally but there were very few passengers. With private taxi aggregators like Ola and Uber not risking to operate, the roads wore a deserted look. 

While government officials were asked to report to office but according to reports, the attendance was slim in the state secretariat. Most of the schools were shut but universities and colleges affiliated to the state government were open.

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from districts with the industrial belt of Asansol and Haldia. A worker from Haldia Petrochemicals said there were no problems at the plant. Shops, markets and business establishments in most areas remained closed.

In Kerala, public and private bus services, taxis and autorickshaws were off the roads. Only few private cars and two wheelers were seen on the roads. Shops, hotels and even small tea stalls were closed in the state.

Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya had appealed to trade unions to call off strike. He had said the impact of the strike would not be much. A group of ministers led by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had held discussions with the trade unions to convince them. However, the talks broke down as trade unions didn't accept the new proposals of the government.

The union labour ministry had issued an advisory to all state governments regarding the strike. Labour ministry officials said eastern and southern parts of the country will see major impact of the strike.

Trade unions' 12-point charter of demands includes urgent measures to contain price rise, contain unemployment, strict enforcement of basic labour laws, universal social security cover for all workers and minimum wage of Rs 15,000 per month.

They are also demanding enhanced pension for workers, stoppage of disinvestment in PSUs, stoppage of contractorisation, removal of ceiling on bonus and provident fund, compulsory registration of trade unions within 45 days, no amendment to labour laws unilaterally, stopping of FDI in Railways, Defence etc.

(With inputs from PTI)