Bharat Bandh on 8th January 2020: Several banks have already informed stock exchanges about the strike and its impact on banking services. (Representational) Bharat Bandh on 8th January 2020: Several banks have already informed stock exchanges about the strike and its impact on banking services. (Representational)

Bharat Bandh on 8th January 2020: Banking operations and ATM services across the country are likely to be affected on Wednesday, with thousands of employees to participate in a day-long strike as part of a Bharat bandh call given by 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs). The Bharat Bandh has been called by the Central Trade Unions (CTUs) to protest against the “anti-people” policies of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

PSU banks are likely to be amongst the most affected, with services like deposit and withdrawal, cheque clearing and instrument issuance expected to be impacted due to the strike. However, services at private sector banks are unlikely to be impacted. Several banks have already informed stock exchanges about the strike and its impact on banking services.

Who has called the Bharat bandh and why?

Ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs) — INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC — along with various sectoral independent federations and associations have called for the nationwide strike on January 8, 2020.

“We expect participation of not less than 25 crore of working people in the forthcoming National General Strike on January 8, 2020, to be followed by many more actions seeking reversal of the anti-worker, anti-people, anti-national policies of the Government,” the 10 CTUs said in a joint statement.

About 60 organisations of students and elected office-bearers of some universities have also decided to join the strike to protest against increased fee structure and commercialisation of education. Also, over 175 farmers and agricultural workers unions will extend its support to workers’ demands and observe January 8 as Gramin Bharat Bandh along with their charter of demands.

Condemning the JNU violence and similar incidents in other universities, the trade unions expressed their solidarity with students and teachers all over India. The unions will also protest against privatisation in railways, corporatisation of 49 defence production units and forced merger of banks.

“We expect participation of not less than 25 crores of working people. The Ministry of Labour has failed to assure any of the demands of workers which called a meeting on January 2, 2020. The attitude of the government is that of contempt towards labour as we construe from its policies and actions,” the statement further said.

Services of which banks will be affected?

The bank unions have called the strike to protest against banking reforms and mega-merger of PSU banks initiated by the Narendra Modi government. The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF) and Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC) had issued a circular last month on its decision to join the nationwide strike.

In a stock exchange filing, State Bank of India (SBI), however, said the impact of the bank strike would be minimal on its operations. The membership of our bank employees in unions participating in strike is very few, so the impact of the strike on bank’s operation will be minimal,” SBI said.

Bank of Baroda, the third-largest bank in India, said the functioning of its branches and offices might be affected or even paralysed due to the bank strike. “The bank is taking necessary steps for the smooth functioning of bank’s branches/offices on the day of the strike, in the event the strike materializes, the functioning of the branches/offices may be affected/paralysed,” Bank of Baroda said in a regulatory filing.

Canara Bank also expects its operations to be hindered due to the bandh call. “The Bank is taking necessary steps for the smooth functioning of Bank’s Branches/Offices on the day of the proposed strike. However, in the event, the strike materialises, the functioning of the branches/offices may be impacted by the strike,” it said.

Syndicate Bank has also issued a public notice asking customers to make transactions before the bank strike on January 8.

Which states will be most affected due to the Bharat bandh?

Other than banking, transport and other key services are also likely to be disrupted in many states due to this Bharat bandh call. West Bengal and Kerala are likely to be the most affected due to the strike. West Bengal Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the government would operate “22 per cent” more buses than normal on Wednesday.

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government has also promised an insurance cover of up to Rs 6 lakh for vehicles damaged due to violence. Adhikari said associations and unions of private bus, taxi and app cab operators have committed to ensure normal services across the state.

In Kerala, the trade unions have exempted the state’s tourism sector from Wednesday’s general strike. Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society hailed as “exemplary” the decision by political parties and trade unions to exempt the state’s tourism sector.

However, the Bharat Bandh may not affect normal life in Karnataka. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) services are unlikely to be affected since the management of both corporations have warned their employees of disciplinary action if they participated in the nationwide strike. Banking services, including ATMs, may be affected since employees of major banks are expected to participate in the strike.

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