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New Delhi: A 24-hour
nation-wide strike by 11 trade unions Tuesday remained peaceful
and evoked a mixed response, but key sectors like banking and
transport took a hit in various parts of the country.
The strike, involving around 800,000 public sector employees, was
to demand an end to contract labour, amendment of the Minimum
Wages Act, an increase in gratuity payout and compulsory
registration of trade unions within 45 days.
The demands also include a universal social security net for all
unorganised sector workers through the creation of a National
Social Security Fund, enforcement of basic labour laws and
stringent action against violation of labour laws.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appealed to all major trade
unions and 5,000 unaffiliated unions to call off the strike.
But the unions rejected the appeal, saying it came only 48 hours
before one of the largest strike calls in the history of
independent India.
State-owned banks were mostly closed across the country as retail
banking operations were the worst affected, with many officials
absent.
Even the Reserve Bank of India employees joined the stir against
the government's labour policies.
Flights were not much affected with many of the airlines operating
according to schedule. Airport operations too progressed
unhindered, said officials.
Other sectors like mining, manufacturing and insurance were also
hit by the strike.
India Inc. termed the strike as "unfortunate and completely
misplaced" at a time of economic slowdown and low business
sentiment.
In the national capital Delhi, fewer public transport vehicles
plied and many auto-rickshaws and taxis were off the roads.
Daily commuters said there were fewer state-run DTC buses on the
roads and several passengers were stranded at various points in
the city.
The Delhi government had enforced Essential Services Maintenance
Act (ESMA) to ensure important services like power and healthcare
remain unaffected.
The strike was almost total in Kerala and hit life across
Karnataka.
Normal life was also hit in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana,
Tripura and Odisha, even as officials had persuaded employees not
to join the strike.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the strike has
been a failure as the common people of the state have not
responded to the call.
In state capital Kolkata, the streets wore a near empty look and
train services were disrupted as protestors put up blockades at
various railway stations.
In the financial capital Mumbai, employees of banks, insurance
companies, central government and local bodies as well as workers
in several private industries joined the strike.
Labour unions claimed the strike, the biggest since independence
in 1947, was to warn the government against its "anti-labour
policies".
The unions including INTUC, BMS, CITU, AITUC, UTUC, AIUTUC, HMS,
TUCI and NLO took part in the strike demanding steps to control
the rise in prices of essential commodities and creation of more
employment opportunities.
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