Nationwide General Strike Evokes Mixed Response in Udupi District
Udupi: The two-day nationwide general strike on January 8th and 9th called by the central trade unions against the alleged repressive policies for workers adopted by the Modi-led BJP government, evoked a mixed response in the Udupi district even as banking operations and transport sector in many parts were affected on Tuesday, January 8.
Similarly, the Government and private buses were off the road in the morning. Some Shops downed their shutters in response to the strike call.
The leaders of ten trade unions took out a rally from the LIC main branch Ajjarakadu which passed through the Old Taluk office, Diana Circle, Court Road, KM Marg, KSRTC Bus-stand, Service Bus-stand and culminated at the Corporation Bank Founder’s Branch. Protesters shouted slogans against the Union government’s alleged anti-worker policies.
Addressing the gathering CITU leader P Vishwanath Rai said that the Modi government was making “pro-employer changes” in labour laws and attempting to “usurp” funds in various welfare boards in the name of providing “universal social security. Critical of the Modi government’s policy of ‘Make in India’, he alleged that the government has been killing the work culture of the country’s public sectors by favouring major contracts of manufacturing works to private players. “In Rafale deal, there was no transfer of technology. State-owned HAL was kept away from the entire deal. This government will follow similar practice when it will sign another two mega defence deals for F-16 fighter aircraft with Lockheed Martin Corporation of the US and purchase of Naval frigates from Russia,” he said.
Rai also demanded an increase in monthly minimum wage to Rs 18,000, regularisation of contractual and outsourced employees from state and central government departments are two major demands of the two-day strike. Labour and employees account 43% of the total 7.26 crore population of the State, as per a 2011 survey. However, the BJP government has done nothing for their rehabilitation and welfare, he said.
A Sripathi Acharya, K V Bhat, K Shanker, Ram Mohan, Ravindra A, Prabhakar B Kundar and others were present.
