The production activity in various industries, banking activities, financial transactions and public transport services were paralysed across the district on Wednesday due to the nation-wide strike called by trade unions resenting the Central government’s alleged anti-labour policies.
The ever bustling bus station in Khammam wore a deserted look from early hours of the day till late in the afternoon. Several passengers were stranded at the bus stands in many parts of the district, including Khammam, Kothagudem, and Yellendu. Coal production was adversely hit in almost all the coalmines in Kothagudem region. According to sources, around 4,667 SCCL staff mostly coal workers abstained from duties as against 7,786 total staff on rolls in Manuguru, Kothagudem, Yellendu and corporate areas under Kothagudem region in the first shift on Wednesday.
The production loss due to the day-long strike is estimated to be around one lakh tonnes in all the coalmines of the company spread in four districts including Khammam, sources said.
Autorickshaw unions, private transport operators, unions representing workers in the unorganised sector also extended support to the strike.
Adilabad Special Correspondent adds: The one-day strike badly affected the SCCL, banks and RTC services. Coal production was hit in the Srirampur, Bellampalli and Mandamarri. The RTC could not ply buses during the day But, business establishments and petrol bunks remained open.
The SCCL losses from the 13 coal-mines in the three mining areas in Adilabad district, was being estimated to be Rs. 9 crore owing to loss in wages and production. The strike was near total as the Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham decided in the last minute to take part in the strike.
Meanwhile, trade unions across the district took out rallies and processions. These rallies were converted into public meetings at many places.
Karimnagar Special Correspondent adds: The strike was complete in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited in Karimnagar district on Wednesday.
Coal production came to a grinding halt. following the miners participating in the strike at all the nine underground mines and four open cast projects (OCP) in the Ramagundam coal-belt region. However, there was no impact of strike at the NTPC Ramagundam. All the employees attended their duties by wearing black badges.
The RTC employees also participated in the strike . The banks also remained closed. In the State government offices, the employees attended duties by wearing the black badges.
Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: All the public and private organisations, educational institutes, shops and establishments were closed down . RTC buses confined to depots till afternoon. A rally was held from IB to Collectorate. Addressing a gathering at the Collectorate, CITU leader Chukka Ramulu demanded the Union government to fix Rs. 15,000 as minimum wage for the workers.
CITU B. Mallesh, AITUC president Raghava Reddy, HMS president Eswara Prasad, AITUC Prabhakar and others participated in the programme.
Nalgonda Staff Reporter adds: The bandh paralysed the normal life in district as transportation came to standstill . The RTC buses remained inside the bus depots across the district.
The protesting trade union leaders took out massive rallies in Nalgonda, Suryapet, Miryalaguda, Kodad, Bhongir, Devarakonda, Huzurangar and other places. All the private educational institutions were close down, while the government schools functioned as usually.
Warangal Special Correspondent adds: Employees’ led by CITU and other unions staged protest demonstrations at banks, educational institutions and public places demanding the Centre to withdraw anti-worker policies.
TSRTC buses stayed off road as the employees joined the strike.
Commuters were stranded at the Warangal and Hanamkonda bus depots. A total of 920 buses were cancelled following the bandh.
LIC-ICU women convenor Kalyani said they were opposing the anti-people and anti-employee policies of the Central government. The unions were demanding that the government withdraw plans to amend Factories Act that was against the interests of workers. The proposed amends to Labour Laws were aimed at benefitting the capitalists.
Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary P. Muralidhar Rao said that the government was not against the workers and talks with representatives of various unions were underway.
