&w=3840&q=100)
Bharat Bandh on July 9: Over 250 million workers to join nationwide strike
Amarjeet Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) told news agency PTI that farmers and rural workers will also join the protest across the country. The large-scale strike is likely to disrupt essential public services and major industries, including banking, coal mining, state-run transport, manufacturing units, and postal services.
Why have trade unions called a general strike?
The protest centres on a 17-point charter of demands that the unions had submitted to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya last year. According to the unions, the government has disregarded these demands and has failed to convene the annual labour conference for the past 10 years, an omission they interpret as indifference towards the nation's labour force.
The forum stated that the government 'continues to take decisions in contravention to the interest of labour force", citing efforts to enforce four new labour codes as an attempt to undermine collective bargaining rights, weaken union activity, and benefit employers under the guise of improving the 'ease of doing business'.
The unions further alleged that prevailing economic policies are exacerbating unemployment, fuelling inflation in essential goods, depressing wages, and leading to cuts in public spending on education, healthcare, and basic civic amenities.
Opposition to privatisation
The trade union forum expressed its opposition to the privatisation of public sector enterprises and services, and the increasing use of contractual and casual labour. According to the unions, the four labour codes passed by Parliament are designed to suppress the trade union movement, extend working hours, and erode workers' rights to collective bargaining.
Demands raised by forum
The forum stated that they were asking the government to address unemployment, fill sanctioned vacancies through recruitment, create additional employment opportunities, increase both the number of workdays and the remuneration for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act MGNREGA workers, and introduce similar legislation for urban areas. However, it added that the government was instead focused on imposing the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme to provide incentives to employers.
Bank trade unions to participate on July 9
The Bengal Provincial Bank Employees Association, affiliated with the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), confirmed that banking sector unions — including AIBEA, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBOA), and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) — will also take part in Wednesday's strike. According to the bank employees' union, the strike will serve as a protest against the central government's 'pro-corporate economic reforms'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Govt's MSP for mangoes a rotten deal for growers
Bengaluru: Although well-intended, the govt's market intervention to rescue mango growers from a price crash has backfired, leaving thousands of farmers worse off. They have been forced to sell their produce at a fraction of the cost of cultivation and are still waiting for payment nearly two weeks after registering. While the scheme aimed to provide relief by procuring mangoes at a minimum support price (MSP), many farmers say the compensation is so low that it's compounding their losses rather than reducing them. "Not a single beneficiary has got money although it is 15 days since 6,000 farmers registered for the scheme," said Neelatur Chinnappa Reddy, president, Kolar Mango Growers' Association. "Crops are decaying with the govt taking its time. But the main issue is the low price the govt has fixed. It does not cover even 25% of production costs." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Official data shows Karnataka had a bumper yield of 10 lakh tonnes of mangoes from 1.3 lakh hectares this season. That bounty — along with low exports — led to a market glut and a sharp price crash, especially in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Bengaluru South, and Bengaluru Rural districts. To soften the blow, the state decided to infuse Rs 101 crore — 50% to be borne by the Centre — in the market and procure 2.5 lakh tonnes of mangoes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Drink 1 Cup Every Morning – See What Happens A Week Later! Health Watcher Undo The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had pegged MSP at Rs 1,616 per quintal (or Rs 16.2/kg). But the state chose to offer just 25% of this — only if market prices dipped below that level — effectively capping the payout at Rs 4 per kg. Given that average cost of production stands at over Rs 12 per kg, the scheme is being slammed as inadequate and flawed. "MSP should be increased to Rs 12 to match production cost," said Reddy. "The cap of five acres should be increased to 10 and the cap on quantity of procurement should be increased from two tonnes per acre to four." Adding to farmers' woes is a delay in payments, as Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation has not yet opened a direct benefit transfer (DBT) account. The finance department is yet to grant approval. Reddy said the growers' association has given the govt time till Wednesday to resolve issues. "Failing which, they will lay siege to Kolar deputy commissioner's office," he said. Farmers also allege that the scheme's eligibility rules exclude most of them. Of the nearly 95,000 mango growers in Karnataka, only 6,673 have been able to register, largely because most cultivate mixed crops like ragi or green gram along with mangoes — a practice disqualified under current rules. Agriculture minister N Cheluvarayaswamy acknowledged the procedural roadblocks and said he would take up the issue with chief minister Siddaramaiah. "Although MSP for mangoes is handled by the departments of cooperation and horticulture, the CM asked me to oversee it. I will bring these issues to his notice," said Cheluvarayaswamy. Kolar district minister Byrathi Suresh also promised quick action. "I will speak to finance officials to ensure approval to open a DBT account," he said.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
National plan for key materials needed to secure EV future: Auto parts makers
EV calculator How much will I save if I choose an electric vehicle? SELECT vehicle type Calculate Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: Auto parts makers are urging the Centre for a national strategy on critical materials to secure the future of automobile manufacturing in the country including electric vehicles . This follows China restricting exports of rare earths, disrupting global supply chains at industries reliant on rare earth magnets like Suri Marwah, president, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) said while auto parts makers are continuing to invest in value addition, technology upgradation, and localisation to align with evolving customer needs and global supply chain dynamics, the shortage of rare earth magnets is proving to be a challenge."The limited availability of rare earth magnets is a concern, underscoring the need for national strategy on critical materials to secure EV's future and mobility manufacturing in India," said Marwah, also MD of auto parts maker Subros She said India has adequate raw materials for making rare earth magnets and can attain self-sufficiency if processing centres are set up. "The industry is agile and has also started working on alternate solutions," she geopolitical and supply chain challenges globally, Marwah said the Indian auto parts industry clocked a 10% increase in revenues at $80.2 billion in FY25. The industry, in fact, grew at 14% compounded annually between FY20 and FY25, nearly doubling in size in five years. "FY25 was yet another milestone year where the industry's growth was underpinned by strong domestic demand, rising exports and increasing value addition," said Marwah, adding that as India transitions towards new-age mobility, the industry is making the necessary strides in investments, technology and localisation to serve both domestic and global markets exports rose by 8% to $22.9 billion last fiscal, imports went up at a slower 7.3% to $22.4 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $453 million. The trade surplus improved from $300 million in Mehta, director general, ACMA said, "This increase in trade surplus indicates India's growing manufacturing competitiveness in the global market and localisation initiatives."
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Union Environment Minister assured of clearing obstacles for Yettinahole project: Karnataka DCM Shivakumar
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also handles the state's Irrigation portfolio, saiad on Tuesday that the Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav has assured him of clearing technical problems in the acquisition of forest lands for Yettinahole project. Speaking to reporters at Karnataka Bhavan at Delhi, he said, 'We met Union Minister of Environment Bhupendra Yadav and appraised him about the technical difficulties with the forest land for Yettinahole project. We also briefed him about our plan to provide revenue land in lieu of the forest land. We have given our reply to the objections raised by the Union Environment ministry regarding forest land acquisition. He has promised us to clear the obstacles for the project.' 'We also met Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil and held a discussion on the Kalasa-Bhanduri project. Goa has raised certain objections and we had a discussion with our legal team on that. Goa does not have the right to object to the project in our state. We have called for a tender for this project after the Court ruling. The Centre has to take a stern stand on the objections and allow construction. We will explore legal response to this after discussing it with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi,' he added. Karnataka Dy CM also meet with Jal Shakti minister CR Patil, discussing the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal's award for water allocation and urged for its implementation. He also met Union Jal Shakti minister C R Patil and appealed to him to release funds for the Upper Bhadra project as promised by the Centre. 'We also spoke to C R Patil about issuing gazette notification as per the Tribunal's order on the Upper Krishna project. A meeting was scheduled long ago to discuss this but it was postponed,' he added. Adding that a meeting with all the MPs will also be planned to seek their support for the completion of the project and 'exert pressure' on the centre, he said, 'We will hold a meeting with all the MPs from the state and seek their support to exert pressure on the Centre on irrigation projects in the state including Mekedatu, Upper Krishna and Kalasa-Bhanduri projects. This would be done before the commencement of the Monsoon session of the Parliament.' When asked about objections to using more than 400 acres of forest land for the Yettinahole project, he added, 'We have already provided alternative revenue land in lieu of forest land. Farmers were using the forest land for 40-50 years and we have acquired the land paying them compensation. The Forest department raised an objection later stating that the land belongs to it. More than half the work has already happened at the site. They have raised an objection for dumping the soil in the forest land. We have even agreed to clear the soil as we want to work to continue. We have spent Rs 24,000 crores on the project and I am confident that they will give permission.' (ANI)
