Finance
Bharat Bandh News: Government offices in Kerala reported thin attendance Tuesday, despite a government order issued Monday stating that the unauthorised absence of employees participating in the strike would be treated as ‘dies non’ following an intervention by the Kerala High Court. Less than 200 employees turned up for duty at the state secretariat. In many other government offices, agitating employees, belonging to both the ruling LDF and opposition UDF, allegedly prevented others from appearing for duty. Meanwhile, shops and establishments continued to remain closed in most parts of the state, with agitators allegedly stopping trucks and even private vehicles.
On the second day of the nationwide strike called by trade unions, public transport and banking services remained partly disrupted in some states. In a statement, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the joint forum of central trade unions, has said that along with independent sectoral federations and associations, they will stage a ‘dharna’ at Jantar Mantar from 11.30 am onwards.
The trade unions are protesting against the Central government’s policies affecting workers, farmers, and people in general. The decision comes following a meeting on March 22 where the trade unions said that they would protest against the Centre’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-national policies”. The bank unions are participating to protest against the government’s plan to privatise public sector banks, as well as the Banking Laws Amendment Bill 2021.
Activists of various Left trade unions block the Dak Bunglow Road in Patna in support of the two-day ‘Bharat Bandh’ called to protest against the Centre’s policies on Tuesday.
Banking services continued to remain affected for the second day on Tuesday as part of the two-day strike call given by various central trade unions.
Operations in public and private sector banks were affected in Tamil Nadu, according to All India Bank Employees Association, and it stated that nearly Rs 5,000 crore worth of cheques could not be transacted.
“Due to the strike, normal banking services were affected. Clearing operations were also affected because branches could not send the cheques for clearance. In the southern grid functioning in Chennai, during our strike, about six lakh cheques worth Rs 5,000 crore could not be sent for clearance due to strike”, AIBEA general secretary C H Venkatachalam said.
The AIBEA announced the strike pressing for various demands including strengthening public sector banks, privatisation of nationalised banks, regularising contract employees and banking correspondents among others.
Contractual employees of Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant in Punjab’s Bhatinda raised slogans against government policies as part of the two-day nationwide strike. Farmers’ unions have also joined the Bharat bandh.
Banking services were impacted partially for the second day on Tuesday, as a section of bank employees came in support of the nationwide strike called by central trade unions. Transactions at many public sector banks were impacted as employees did not report for duty. Besides, there were delays in cheque clearances and government treasury operations were also affected due to the strike.
“As per our reports, in the Southern Grid functioning in Chennai, during our strike yesterday and today, about 6 lakh cheques/instruments worth about Rs 5,000 crore could not be sent for clearance as branches did not function due to the strike,” All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) general secretary CH Venkatachalam said.
At the national level, about 20 lakh cheques worth about Rs 18,000 crore could not be cleared, he claimed.
The issue of the nationwide strike called by trade unions and their 12-point charter of demands was raised in Parliament Tuesday by Opposition members.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu disallowed adjournment notices moved by Left and Congress members over the issue, saying the MPs can raise it during discussions in the House.
Source:IE
