2-day Bharat Bandh ends peacefully in State

--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.