Trade unions strike evokes mixed response in C'garh

Banking and postal services were partially affected in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday as the Central Trade Unions went on a two-day nationwide strike against the government's alleged anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms.

Employees of some of the major banks, insurance companies and post offices joined the strike, which evoked a mixed response in the state.

A trade union leader, however, claimed that the strike had a huge impact in Chhattisgarh.

"Employees of coal, steel, power companies, banks, insurance firms and those working in other organised and unorganised sectors joined the strike," Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) state secretary Dharmaraj Mahapatra told PTI.

Workers of the anganwadis (government-run women and child care centres), rice mills and agriculture production marketing centres (mandis) also supported the protest, he said.

He claimed that the strike will have a greater impact on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, mining activities in the mineral-rich state were partially affected.

Production was completely stalled in the Manikpur coal mine of state-owned South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Korba district while it was partially affected in Kusmunda, Gevra and Dipka coal mines of the district.

Transport service were unaffected and schools and colleges also remained open across the state.

Agitators held protests at several place in the state capital Raipur.

No untoward incident was reported so far in any part of the state.

The trade unions are protesting against the alleged anti-labour policies of the Centre, divestment of PSUs, price rise of essential commodities and are demanding minimum wages of Rs 18,000 per month, Mahapatra said.