On Monday, numerous states began a 48-hour Bharat Bandh, or statewide strike, organized by various labor unions, including banking workers, to protest government policies, disrupting regular life in several locations.
Banking services were hampered in part because several staff failed to report for duty, according to news agency PTI. Many public sector banks were impacted, and check clearances were expected to be delayed. The majority of private sector banks, on the other hand, were minimally affected.
The strike’s impact is felt most strongly in eastern India, where many public sector bank branches are closed, according to All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) General Secretary CH Venkatachalam. Branch offices are operating in the other regions because police are there, but services are being hampered because many personnel is on strike, he said.
Bank unions are protesting the government’s decision to privatize two public sector banks, which was announced in the Union Budget this year. They also want an increase in deposit interest rates and a reduction in service fees.
Roads in Left-ruled Kerala, where trade unions wield significant power, appeared desolate, with barely a few private automobiles visible. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses were stranded on the roads.
Unions in the railways and defense sectors are also expected to mobilize in support of the strike, which will take place in hundreds of locations. Aside from steel, oil, telecom, coal, postal, income tax, copper, and insurance workers, road, transportation, and electrical workers have agreed to join the strike.
The Power Ministry instructed all state-owned utilities and other organizations to be on high alert to ensure 24-hour electricity supply and national grid stability. The ministry’s advice stated that power supply to people involved in important services such as hospitals, defense, and railways must be ensured, and suggested the establishment of a 24-hour control room for information distribution and contingency management.
