Mixed Response to Nationwide Strike Across India; Life Paralysed in Kerala and Odisha.

NEW DELHI: Normal life remained largely unaffected in several parts of the country despite a one-day nationwide strike called by a joint forum of central trade unions on Thursday. The strike was organized to protest against the central government’s alleged anti-worker and pro-corporate policies. While states like Kerala and Odisha witnessed significant disruptions, life in West Bengal, Gujarat, and Tripura continued as usual with vehicles plying normally and offices recording regular attendance.

In Kerala, the strike brought public life to a near standstill as public transport including KSRTC and private buses remained off the roads. Although the state government had declared ‘dies-non’ for its employees, attendance in most offices was remarkably low. Similarly, in Odisha, road blockades on national and state highways affected the movement of goods and passengers. In industrial belts like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, the banking, insurance, and mining sectors saw partial impact as workers joined the agitation.

The joint forum, comprising organizations like AITUC, CITU, and INTUC, is demanding the scrapping of the four new Labour Codes, the withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025, and the restoration of MGNREGA. While union leaders claimed a massive mobilization of nearly 30 crore workers, the impact remained concentrated in specific regions, with essential services and private establishments functioning without much hindrance in the western and northern parts of India. (PTI)

For more details: Navamalayalam.com