Mangalore/Udupi, Feb 20: The 48-hour nationwide strike called by central trade unions hit normal life across Coastal districts of Karnataka on Wednesday with workers from varied sectors, including transport and banking, staying away from work to protest the UPA government's economic and labour policies.
The strike call had been given by trade unions of all hues, including the Congress-backed INTUC, the BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Left-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions and All India United Trade Union Congress, and Hind Mazdoor Sabha.
Early reports said private and city buses were off the roads in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. KSRTC buses were also very less. Around 40% of the shops and business establishments remained closed. The strike also affected functioning of government offices too.
The absence of buses put passengers, who were on their way to attend some programmes and emergencies, into hardship. Some construction workers were seen waiting in the bus stops in the morning.
Many private schools and colleges too were remained closed. Government education institutions and professional colleges had thin attendance.
The City wore a deserted look with few people seen walking on the road and few vehicles plying. People who came from Bangalore and other places in bus and trains were seen struggling to reach their destinations as there were no buses plying.
Train passengers were taken for a ride by few taxis at the railway station. The number of auto rickshaws was also less across the city, thus contributing to the hardship of the passengers.
Though all trains left and arrived in time, the Mangalore Central Railway Station premises wore a deserted look.
Flight schedule was almost normal at Mangalore International Airport.
Security has been tightened and no violence has been reported from anywhere. Police have offered protection to those willing to work and public conveyances ready to ply, police sources said.
Emergency services like health care, milk supply and media have been exempted from the strike.
The prime demand of the unions, cutting across occupations, is that the government take immediate steps to check inflation. Among other demands are implementation of minimum wages for unorganised workers, a halt to PSU disinvestment, implementation of social security measures and employment creation. Apart from these general demands, individual unions have added their occupation-specific demands.
A significant proportion of the 13 lakh workers employed in large and medium industrial units in Karnataka, and 14 lakh small scale unit are participating in the strike, according to S. Prasanna Kumar, general secretary, Karnataka State Committee, CITU.
Exam postponed
Meanwhile, Mangalore University has postponed the MBA examinations scheduled for February 20. A press release by B. Narayana, Registrar (Evaluation) of the University, said here that the decision follows the strike call given by the trade unions in the country on February 20 and 21. The MBA examinations scheduled for February 20 have been postponed to March 1, the release said.
Related: Trade Unions' stir bags good response
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