Bharat Bandh on July 9: Banks, transport, power supply may face disruptions; what you need to know

More than 25 crore workers across sectors ranging from banking, insurance, postal to coal mining, highway and construction are expected to participate in a nationwide general strike on Wednesday, potentially disrupting essential services across the country.

A forum of 10 central trade unions and their associates have called for a general strike or ‘Bharat Bandh’ to oppose what they termed as “anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the government”.

The forum urged all affiliates to make “the nationwide general strike a grand success” and said that preparations have been taken up earnestly by unions in both formal and informal sectors.

The trade union forum had last year submitted a charter of 17-point demands to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, it said in its latest statement.

The forum said the economic policies have led to rising unemployment, soaring prices of essential commodities, wage depression and reduced social sector spending on education, health and basic civic amenities, resulting in increased inequalities and miseries for the poor, lower-income groups and the middle class.

Trade unions have been opposing the privatisation of public sector enterprises and services, outsourcing, contractualisation, and casualisation of the workforce. The four labour codes passed by Parliament, the unions said, aim to suppress trade union movements, increase working hours, snatch workers’ rights to collective bargaining and strike, and decriminalise employer violations of labour laws.

“We are demanding from the government to address unemployment, recruitments against sanctioned posts, creation of more jobs, increase in days and remuneration of MGNREGA workers and enactment of similar legislation for urban areas. But the government is busy imposing ELI (Employment Linked Incentive) scheme to incentives employers' instead,” the forum said.

Union leaders from NMDC Ltd and other non-coal minerals, steel, state government departments, and public sector enterprises have also given notices to join the strike.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the joint front of agricultural workers’ unions have extended support to the strike and called for massive mobilisations in rural India.

Meanwhile, power supply across the country may also be affected on July 9, as around 27 lakh power sector employees are planning a day-long nationwide strike against the Uttar Pradesh government’s move to privatise two power distribution companies.

Shailendra Dubey, Chairman of the All India Power Engineers’ Federation (AIPEF), said that the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to privatise Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL), which together cover 42 out of the state’s 75 districts.

“We will not be responsible if power supply is affected,” he said.

According to a state government tender dated January 12, Uttar Pradesh is looking to privatise two of its four power distribution companies due to frequent power losses and outdated transmission infrastructure.

Are banks, schools, and colleges open tomorrow?

Harbhajan Singh Sidhu from Hind Mazdoor Sabha said banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services are likely to be affected due to the strike.

An association of bank employees on Monday confirmed that the banking sector will join the Bharat Bandh tomorrow, Mint reported. Bengal Provincial Bank Employees Association, affiliated to the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), stated that the insurance sector will also join the strike.

While no official bank holiday has been announced by banks or other government offices on July 9, services are expected to be disrupted. Electricity supply may also be impacted as over 27 lakh power sector workers are expected to go on a strike.

States have not yet issued any holiday notification for schools and colleges due to the Bharat Bandh tomorrow, and they are expected to remain open.