New Delhi, February 12 A nationwide strike called by trade unions to protest against alleged anti-worker policies of the central government on Thursday evoked a mixed response, and normal life remained largely unaffected throughout the country.
The trade unions primarily held gate meetings and demonstrations in various states, and in some places, workers reported being late for work to show their solidarity with the agitation.
Reports indicate a mixed response in states including Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab.
The trade unions claimed "strong resistance against the anti-people and anti-national policies of the Union Government," and stated that over 30 crore workers, farmers, and other sections participated in the agitation.
The joint platform of the Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations, along with the constituents of Samyukt Kisan Morcha and the joint front of agricultural workers' unions, succeeded in organizing strike actions and massive mobilizations in over 600 districts of the country, the forum stated.
In Delhi, trade unions organized processions in all industrial areas. A meeting was held at Jantar Mantar, attended by central trade union leaders.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of All India Traders said that "markets across the country are open, trade is normal, and all business activities will proceed as usual."
However, reports indicate that normal life was partly affected in Odisha due to the agitation.
Public transport, markets, educational institutions, and business establishments were disrupted, with major roads, including national and state highways, blocked.
The impact of the strike was felt in major urban areas, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Berhampur, and Sambalpur.
In Jharkhand, banking, insurance, and coal sectors were affected by the strike, according to Bank of India (BOI) Employees' Union state Deputy General Secretary Umesh Das.
Left parties and the Congress have also extended support to the strike in the state.
In Chhattisgarh, several nationalised banks remained closed as employees joined the strike. Employees of insurance companies, post offices, along with labourers and farmers, also participated in the agitation, affecting operations in their respective sectors.
Mining activities in the mineral-rich state were partially affected.
However, transport services in the state functioned normally, and shops, markets, and most business establishments remained open.
Normal life was largely unaffected in many areas, including Durg district in Chhattisgarh, where operations at the Bhilai Steel Plant continued as usual.
Operations at ports in Tamil Nadu were affected as workers staged protests. Port operations in Thoothukudi and Chennai were severely disrupted.
The industrial hub of Sriperumbudur also witnessed significant activity as workers from several manufacturing units held gate meetings and demonstrations.
While production in some major automobile and electronic facilities continued with reduced manpower, the movement of goods in the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam industrial belt faced delays due to the scarcity of transport vehicles.
In Kerala, though the state government declared a day of non-working for government employees, attendance at offices remained low as transport vehicles stayed off the roads.
Travellers were among the worst affected, with KSRTC and private buses remaining off the roads.
Punjab's ruling party, AAP, extended support to the nationwide strike.
The agitation evoked a mixed response in Goa, with banking operations affected while essential services remained uninterrupted. Nationalised banks and offices of many insurance companies remained closed in the coastal state.
Over 25,000 civilian employees working with defence establishments across Madhya Pradesh reported to work an hour late on Thursday to support the strike. Markets, schools, and colleges remained open across the state.
The strike call failed to elicit any response in West Bengal as vehicles plied normally, and state government and private offices recorded usual turnout.
Similarly, the strike call failed to elicit much response in Tripura. Government offices, banks, educational institutions, and markets remained open, while road transport and train services operated as usual.
The protest saw little impact in Gujarat, with most services and commercial establishments functioning as usual.
Normal life remained largely unaffected in major cities, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot.
Markets, shops, industrial units, and educational institutions operated without disruption, while public transport services and autorickshaws ran without any problem.
The trade unions' demands include the scrapping of four labour codes, withdrawal of the Draft Seed Bill and Electricity Amendment Bill, and the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act.
The unions are also demanding the restoration of MGNREGA and the scrapping of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. The joint forum includes unions such as INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, and UTUC.
