--Around 100 agitators arrested
during protest
--Bandh hits normal life,
paralyses transport system
BHUBANESWAR:
The second day of the two-day nationwide strike called by the Central trade unions
ended peacefully in the State. The bandh disrupted normal life in different
parts across the State and hit banking and transport sectors on Thursday too. The
trade unions are observing the bandh demanding social security for labourers,
implementation of labour laws, check in price rise and minimum wage for
workers.
In the capital city, bus and
auto-rickshaw service was disrupted on the second day of the bandh. The train
services were also affected due to the trade unions’ sit-in in front of the
trains at several railway stations in the State. About 16 mail express and
eight local passenger trains were affected for hours and controlled enroute at
different stations.
Trains like Bhubaneswar-New Delhi
Rajdhani Express, Bhubaneswar-Secunderabad Visakha Express and Bhubaneswar-LTT
Express left the Bhubaneswar
railway station after four hours delay. In view of the situation, the ECoR
decided to cancel and short-terminate some of the trains. Some trains were also
rescheduled to resume their journey, said the ECoR official sources.
The business establishments,
educational institutions and Government offices remained closed for two days
during the bandh to avoid any untoward situation during picketing of the trade
unions. Like first day of the bandh, the shops, small vendors and vending zones
participated in the bandh as the All Odisha Roadside Vendors’ Association,
Vending Zone Suraksha Manch and Small Vendors’ Associations supported the
strike.
However, it was seen that a few
auto-rickshaws were plying on the road charging bit high fare from the
passengers. Some shops and vending zones were opened on the second day defying
the associations’ whip.
The United Forum of Bank Union
continued the strike on the second day as a result banking services in the
State was also affected. Around 12,000 officers and 30,000 other bank employees
of nationlised, co-operative and rural banks took part in the bandh protesting
privatisation and merger of banks.
Similarly, the postal employees
union also supported the bandh on its second day. All the postal employees
staged dharna in front of the General Post Office at the State Headquarters
Office. The insurance employees and members of the other organisations
supported the bandh to make it successful.
Members of eleven trade unions
including BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC,
AICCTU and other organisations held picketing before the private banks, PSUs,
Central Government offices and on the roads. The industrial workers also held picketing
in front of their main offices, said the leaders.
Around hundred agitators were
arrested at the Lower PMG in front of the State Assembly
while they wanted to break the barricade to march towards the Assembly.
Similarly, the police arrested agitators while they were picketing on the road
at several places of the State.
In their 10-piont charter of
demands, the unions highlighted price rise and demanded universal food security
with 50 kg of cereals per family along with pulses and cooking oil. They
demanded concrete measures for employment generation, halt in disinvestment in
PSUs and increased FDI in various sectors, pension for all at a rate not less than
the minimum wage, compulsory registration of trade unions within 45 days of
submission of application and security and protection of woman workers.
.JPG)