Bharat Bandh 2022 Day 2: Transport, Banking services hit in several states including Haryana, Kerala, West Bengal- Check full impact!

Bharat Bandh on March 28, 29: The Bharat Bandh. called by  a joint forum of central trade unions has entered Day 2, marking the first major protest this year. The two-day nationwide strike had led to disruption of transport and banking services on Day 1. The impact on the services is likely to continue on Day 2 of Bharat Bandh as well.

The first day of Bharat Bandh saw disruption of services in several states including Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. While workers blocked railway lines in Kolkata, the shops remained shut across Kerala. The state transport services were also impact in Kerala, as the state-run KSRTC buses did not operate and autos, taxis and private buses also kept away from the roads.

The Left workers blocked trains and protested on the streets in West Bengal, despite the West Bengal government cracking a whip on its employees, barring them from taking any casual leave or half day during the two-day Bharat Bandh.

In Haryana as well, the state-run buses did not operate and transport services were impacted in several districts including Panipat, Rohtak, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Sirsa, Ambala, Fatehabad, Yamunanagar  and Karnal. Besides this, around 100 workers of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram took part in a protest in Gurgaon near Delhi.

Kerala | Shops remains closed in Thiruvananthapuram, in view of the Bharat Bandh called by various central trade unions pic.twitter.com/DUvTanxEUm

— ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2022

What is the reason for Bharat Bandh?

A group of central trade unions called for a Bharat Bandh on March 28 and 29 in protest against central government policies. The unions' demands include the scrapping of the proposed changes in labour laws, privatisation of any form and the national monetisation pipeline. The trade unions are also demanding for increased allocation of wages under MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and regularisation of contract workers. 

Why is there Bharat Bandh on Monday?

There is Bharat Bandh on Monday and Tuesday as central trade unions have called for a two-day strike against the central government's policies. The bank unions have also joined the strike. The two-day nationwide strike of the trade unions is expected to impact essential services including banking, electricity, transportation and railways starting from March 28th. 

What is the date of Bharat Bandh?

Bharat Bandh has been called on March 28 and 29th.

Is 28 and 29 strike?

Yes, a two-day nationwide strike has been called on March 28 and March 29 by the central trade unions. 

Who is participating in the Bharat Bandh?

• All central trade unions, bank unions, transport, railways and electricity department workers are participating in the Bharat Bandh.
• Several Trade unions including HMS, INTUC, AITUC, AIUTUC, TUCC, CITU, SEWA, LPF, AICCTU and UTUC are part of the joint forum. 
• The bank unions are also participating in the strike to protest against the government's plan to privatise public sector banks.
• The All India Bank Employees Association has also announced its support to the Bharat Bandh. Several banks including the State Bank of India have issued a statement informing customers that banking services may be impacted on March 28 and 29th. 
• The workers of roadways, transport and electricity departments have also joined the two-day strike. 
• Informal workers from other sectors including telecom, income tax, postal, steel, oil, coal, copper and insurance have also joined the strike. 

The Left and DMK MPs hold protest at Gandhi statue over the two-day 'Bharat Bandh' called central trade unions.

Delhi | Left and DMK MPs protest at Gandhi statue over the two-day 'Bharat Bandh' called central trade unions pic.twitter.com/xyVnn4QR5m

— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2022

Bharat Bandh 2022: What has been affected?

-Banking services have been partially impacted with section of employees not reporting for duty. This is expected to cause delays in cheque clearances and transactions in public sector banks. No impact on private sector banks. 

-Railways impacted with workers blocking railway lines, especially in Kolkata. 

-Transportation is also expected to be impacted with workers in the sector joining the two-day strike. 

-Informal workers in the entire coal mining belt in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh join Bharat Bandh protest.

-Electricity supply may also be impact with workers in the sector joining the protest. 

Power Ministry Advisory

The Power Ministry has advised all state-run utilities and other agencies to be on high alert and ensure round-the-clock electricity supply and stability of the national grid during the two-day Bharat Bandh.

The advisory issued to all states has asked the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) and all Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs) to reschedule shutdown activities and deploy additional manpower at all critical power stations to handle any emergency situation during the strike. 

The Ministry has advised all the power utilities to take necessary measures to ensure round the clock normal functioning of the electricity Grid and availability of all plants, transmission lines and substations.

The advisory said that power supply to those engaged in essential services such as hospitals, defence, and railways must be ensured and it also suggested setting up of a 24x7 control room for information dissemination and handling any kind of contingency.

West Bengal Government mandates employees to report for duty, no casual or half-day leave

The West Bengal government has asked all its employees to report for duty mandatorily on March 28, 29 during the Bharat Bandh. The state government has strictly ordered that any employee who fails to report to duty will be issued a show-cause notice.

The West Bengal Government ordered that no casual leave or half-day leave would be granted to any employee on March 28 and March 29.

West Bengal | Members from the Left Front gather in huge numbers & block railway tracks at Jadavpur Railway Station in Kolkata, in view of the 2-day nationwide strike called by different trade unions. pic.twitter.com/WnWUTJHKNo

— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2022

CPI(M) MP submits suspension notice in Rajya Sabha over Bharat Bandh

CPI (M) MP Binoy Viswam submitted a Suspension of Business notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 over the two-day Bharat Bandh called by trade unions across the country to protest against government's corporatisation and privatisation policies.

CPI MP Binoy Viswam gives Suspension of Business notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 over the "two-day nationwide strike called by workers across the country to protest against the corporatisation and privatisation policies of the Central Government".

— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2022

Kerala HC bars BPCL Trade Unions to participate in Bharat Bandh

The Kerala High Court on March 25, 2022 barred five trade unions at the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) from participating in the Bharat Bandh on March 28 and 29.