Bharat Bandh: 25 crore workers join strike against govt policies. Banking, transport, postal services to be impacted. Check details here.
🇮🇳 What Is Happening: Bharat Bandh Across India
India is witnessing a massive Bharat Bandh today, Wednesday, as over 25 crore workers across multiple sectors join hands in a nationwide strike.
The call for the general strike comes from a joint platform of 10 central trade unions, protesting against what they term as the “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies” of the central government.
👷 Who Is Participating In The Bharat Bandh?
Workers from a broad spectrum of sectors have pledged support for the strike. This includes:
- 🏦 Banking and insurance employees
- 📬 Postal service workers
- ⛏️ Coal miners
- 🚍 State transport staff
- 🏭 Workers from factories & industrial units
According to Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the strike will see participation from both formal and informal sector workers, as well as farmers and rural labourers across the country.
🗣️ “More than 25 crore workers are expected to take part. Farmers and rural workers will also join in,” Amarjeet Kaur told PTI.
🚦 What Services Are Likely To Be Hit?
🏦 Banking & Insurance
Most major bank unions are part of the strike call, which means banking transactions — including cheque clearances and branch operations — could be disrupted. ATMs, however, may continue to function normally.
🚍 State Transport & Public Transit
Buses run by state transport corporations in many states are likely to be fewer on the roads, affecting commuters.
⛏️ Mining & Factories
Coal mining operations and industrial output in several belts could be impacted, leading to supply disruptions.
📬 Postal Services
Routine postal deliveries, money orders, and counter services may also be delayed.
📜 Why Are Workers Striking? The 17-Point Charter
At the heart of this massive protest is a 17-point charter of demands, which the unions submitted to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya last year. The key demands include:
✅ Controlling inflation & guaranteeing minimum wages
✅ Strengthening labour laws to protect workers
✅ Halting privatisation of public sector units (PSUs)
✅ Expanding social security to all unorganised workers
✅ Ensuring guaranteed MSP for farmers
Union leaders say the government has ignored their charter and has not convened the Indian Labour Conference for nearly a decade, reflecting a lack of seriousness on issues affecting workers.
🚜 Farmers’ Organisations Join Hands
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and a joint front of agricultural workers’ unions have also announced their backing for today’s Bharat Bandh. They plan to organise large mobilisations in rural belts, which could amplify the scale of the protest.
🔙 When Have Similar Strikes Happened?
This is not the first time India is witnessing such a nationwide industrial action. Similar large-scale strikes were observed on:
- November 26, 2020
- March 28-29, 2022
- February 16, 2024
These strikes too had highlighted issues like privatisation, inflation, and inadequate labour protections.
📈 How Big Could The Impact Be?
Given the sheer scale — with over 25 crore workers expected to stay away from work — today’s Bharat Bandh could see:
⚠️ Bank branches functioning with skeletal staff
⚠️ Fewer buses, leading to transport delays
⚠️ Possible slowdown in mining & factory production
⚠️ Postal and insurance services taking a hit
However, many essential services such as hospitals, ambulance services, and emergency response units are likely to remain outside the purview of the strike.
🔍 What Happens Next?
While trade unions have called this a one-day nationwide strike, they also hinted that if demands are continuously ignored, future rounds of protests could be escalated.
Political analysts note that such widespread worker action often puts pressure on governments, especially in pre-election years. Whether the Centre responds with negotiations remains to be seen.
📌 Quick Takeaways
✅ Bharat Bandh today sees participation from over 25 crore workers across banking, insurance, postal, coal, and transport sectors.
✅ 17 demands submitted to govt include price control, social security, and halting privatisation.
✅ Services like banking, public transport, postal operations likely to face disruption.
✅ Farmers’ organisations have also joined, making the protest broader and more impactful.
📝 Final Word
Today’s Bharat Bandh underscores the rising discontent among India’s working class and farming communities. With public services facing interruptions, citizens across cities and rural belts will feel the pinch.
For the government, this is yet another sign that labour and agrarian issues remain at the forefront, needing urgent and meaningful dialogue.
Disclaimer: This article may have been partially or fully generated with the help of AI tools. While we strive for accuracy and clarity, please verify critical information from official sources.
