Poor response to ‘Bharat Bandh’ in southern districts

The trade unions-sponsored ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Wednesday had little impact on the normal life in the four southern districts (Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari).

Condemning the Union government’s failure to contain inflation, unprecedented job loss, hike in minimum salary and wages, privatisation of public sector undertakings, outsourcing of vital works of government departments and demanding restoration of old pension scheme, withdrawal of ‘anti-labour’ policies, filling-up of vacancies, the trade unions called for nation-wide bandh on Wednesday.

A section of the members of JACTTO – GEO went on casual leave to extend support to the protest which had little impact in the functioning of the government offices. They also participated in the demonstrations organised at Vannarpet as part of the bandh.

However, banking operations were hit as only the officers had reported for duty. The schools and the colleges functioned as usual with more than 90% of the teachers reported for work. The buses were operated as usual.

When the protesting trade union workers staged road rokos at Nanguneri, Veeravanallur, Mukkoodal, Maanur and Vickramasingapuram, the police arrested more than 250 persons.

In Thoothukudi, the members of trade unions organised road roko at Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur, Kovilpatti, Kadambur, Srivaikundam and Sattankulam in the district where the police detained 1,011 protestors.

Operation in VOC Port was as usual as only 20% of the workers participated in the strike.

In Kanniyakumari district, the police arrested 1,103 persons as they attempted to block traffic at 9 places to highlight their demands and 1,100 persons were detained in Tenkasi district where the agitation was organised at 11 places.