New Delhi: Members of 10 central trade unions have gone a one-day nationwide strike on Wednesday against government policies, a trade body representative said. The strike is part of 'Bharat Bandh' called by central trade unions along with different federations being organised to protest against "anti-worker policies of BJP government" today. Nearly 25 crore people are said to be taking part in this all-India strike.

As bank unions are joining the strike to protest against banking reforms and mega-merger of PSU banks, the transport and banking services at several places are likely to be affected.

The bank strike is part of the Bharat Bandh call given by trade unions to protest against the labour reforms and economic policies of the Central government, according to reports. The protestors' demand during the Bharat Bandh includes the Centre to drop the proposed labour reforms. A Bill in this regard was passed and proposes to merge 44 labour laws into four codes -- wages, industrial relations, social security, and safe working conditions.

Why is 'Bharat Bandh' today?

Tapan Sen, general secretary of CITU said that the strike has been called against anti-worker and anti-national policies of BJP government. "Workers are going on strike with a 12-point charter of demands. We are demanding equal wage for equal work for contract workers who do the same work but receive less than half wage than regular workers," he added. "All 10 central unions along with all national independent federations of central and state governments, bank, defence production and other service sectors have called for 'Bharat Bandh'," he said.

The demands also include a minimum pension of Rs 6,000 for everyone, minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, adequate supply of ration to people, she said, adding that the demands concern common man's issues besides worker-centric issues.

Who have called the Bharat bandh?

The ten central trade unions - INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC - along with various sectoral independent federations and associations have given the call for strike with a 12-point charter of demand. Trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) will not be taking part in the strike.

Several state-run bank employees, excluding those of State Bank of India (SBI) are set to participate in the shutdown to protest against the merger of banks and closure of their branches across the country. The trade unions have claimed that around 25 crore people will join the strike.

Agricultural markets, wholesale market yards, Peenya industrial area and hundreds of small and medium enterprises will remain shut, affecting daily wage workers and employees.

Bengaluru braces for trade unions' shutdown

The city police stepped up security and heightened vigil to maintain law and order and prevent untoward incidents during the day-long all-India shutdown on Wednesday, a top police official said.

"The trade unions and others will not be allowed to take processions or disrupt normal life, including taxis, bus and metro rail services, suburban trains, opening up of shops, markets, malls, theatres, hotels and eateries," Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao told reporters in Bengaluru.

Odisha varsity postpones exams for nationwide strike

Utkal University in Odisha on Tuesday declared to postpone the examinations scheduled to be held on Wednesday due to the nation-wide strike called by major trade unions against alleged anti-labour policies of the Central government.

"In view of the Bharat Bandh called by different organisations on January 8 and keeping in mind the inconvenience to be caused thereby for the examinees, all examinations scheduled to be held on Wednesday are hereby postponed," said a notification. It said that fresh date for the said examinations will be notified later.

(With inputs from agencies)