Date:15/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/15/stories/2006121511080400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Good response in State to strike called by trade unions

Special Correspondent

Life unaffected and all essential services remained untouched

VOICE OF PROTEST: Members of trade unions shouting slogans at the public meeting addressed by union leaders at Banappa Park in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: The strike call given by the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) evoked a good response, with banks, insurance offices, public sector undertakings, large industries and most government offices remaining closed throughout the State. Hartals and demonstrations were organised by several trade unions. The call received a particularly enthusiastic response in the northern districts.

Life, however, remained unaffected and all essential services remained untouched. No violence was reported from any part of the State, according to the police. While autorickshaws stayed off the road, especially in Bangalore city, KSRTC and BMTC bus services were augmented to make up for it. Schools functioned as usual, and business establishments remained open in most parts, barring the northern districts.

In Tumkur, members of trade unions and Left parties blocked traffic at three places. Employees of several banks and insurance companies joined them.

Partial bandh

Most schools and colleges remained closed in Raichur, Koppal and Gulbarga. A partial bandh was observed in Raichur city, Deodurg and Manvi towns in Raichur district. Several business establishments remained closed in Raichur and Gulbarga districts in protest against foreign direct investment in retail trade. A bandh was observed in Koppal town where trade union activists staged a rasta roko agitation at Ashoka Circle and also at Gunj Circle, disrupting traffic on National Highway 13 till afternoon. The response in Bidar district, however, was relatively lukewarm with some government offices functioning normally. Anganwadi workers joined the strike in large numbers in all the northern districts.

The response was mixed in Dakshina Kannada district, with several State and Union government offices remaining open, though the staff strength was reduced. In Bangalore , the response from industries was total and autorickshaws stayed off the road. Normal life was unaffected with buses plying as usual.

CITU State president V.J.K. Nair described the strike as "successful" with "hundred per cent response from industrial workers" and "85 per cent response from government employees." Though the call was not for a bandh, a "bandh-like situation" prevailed in districts such as Gulbarga, Bellary and Udupi, he said.

The unorganised sector was involved in a big way with anganwadi workers, beedi workers and panchayat workers joining the strike, said Mr. Nair.

Agricultural workers joined in the demonstrations in several parts of the State, he said, with withdrawal of subsidies to the farm sector and introduction of agriculture-unfriendly policies being issues of grave concern to them.

The strike was in support of a charter of 18 demands, including measures to stall price rise and improve the public distribution system, and special legislation to protect unorganised and farm workers.