Central trade unions' strike affects normal life in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Normal life was affected in several parts of Odisha following a day-long nationwide general strike called by ten central trade unions to protest changes in labour laws and privatisation of PSUs by the BJP-led NDA government.

Train services were disrupted for sometime at several places as protesters blocked tracks near railway stations like Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Chhatrapur and Khalikot, East Coast Railway (ECoR) sources said.

Around 10 trains were delayed due to the stir leaving many passengers stranded at various places.

Shops, markets, business establishments, educational institutions, banks and insurance and other offices remained closed in most areas during the strike, police said.

Vehicular movement was disrupted as passenger buses, trucks and other vehicles remained off the roads with strike supporters staging road blockades in many places and holding pickets at key junctions, they said.

In the state capital of Bhubaneswar, roads wore a deserted look with agitators staging pickets at several places in a bid to prevent people from proceeding to offices and other destinations.

Similar reports were received from places like Puri, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Berhampur and Balasore.

The strike remained by and large peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere, police said adding elaborate security arrangements were made to deal with any eventuality during the strike.

In the port town of Paradip, loading and unloading of goods was hit at the port, while work in industrial units like IFFCO and PPL remained unaffected.

The central trade unions have called the strike to press for 12-point charter of demands including urgent steps to check price , contain unemployment, strict enforcement of basic labour laws and minimum wage of Rs 15,000 per month.

They are also demanding withdrawal of alleged anti-worker changes in labour laws and an immediate halt to disinvestment and privatisation of PSUs.

Though initially 12 central trade unions had called the strike, BJP-backed BMS and National Front of Indian Trade Unions ( NFTUI) pulled out later.