Partial paralysis

The two-day nationwide strike was orchestrated more to make the trade unions feel more relevant than to address key issues

I faced a partial paralysis over the last two days. I found it difficult to move about, unable to find public transport of any kind, thanks to the all-India strike call given by a few trade unions.

The protest of most of the trade unions for two days in succession perhaps was to make them feel relevant.

The price of making themselves feel important was probably not less than Rs 20,000 crore over two days. Bangalore alone may have lost about Rs 900 crore during the “ineffective” protest against inflation, fuel subsidy cuts… Well, think of anything that probably makes the pocket lighter, was a genuine reason for the strike.

Cut off from real world, the victors (strike organisers) perhaps may now find it all the more a reason to indulge in such adventures. They, after all, managed two successive days of a general strike.
 
Imagine the fate of the daily wage earners. The autorickshaw drivers are those I come across often and realise the precarious lives they lead. Most of them are living on the edge. A slip of any kind and they could just fall off, into absolute poverty, from relative poverty.  For them to join the strike, they need special incentives. Those who are members of any one of the unions get some money (about Rs 150) according to some accounts. So much for voluntary, spontaneous protests.

 
But, these strike organisers claim to work from their heart and minds without consulting non-union members.

In reality, however, they consult the companies and firms whose market is located abroad. The IT services industry in particular. So much for union independence!