08 January,2020 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | A correspondent
This image has been used for representational purposes only
With 10 central trade unions and the Shiv Sena-affiliated Bhartiya Kamgar Sena in Maharashtra joining the nationwide strike on Wednesday, railway employees too are giving it back to the Railway Ministry by organising a 'Rail Bachao Sangoshti' to counter the ministry's Rail Parivartan Sangoshti.
The ministry's drive had been aimed at coming up with innovative ideas to improve the Indian Railways. The strike has been called to protest the Central government's 'anti-labour' and 'anti-people' policies.
Train services and airport operations may get affected if the strike takes an aggressive turn. However, officials assured that suburban services would run as usual and outstation trains being affected would be a worst-case scenario. Though taxi and autorickshaw drivers have said they will function normally. Apart from transport, banking services are also likely to be hit. Nearly 25 crore people are expected to join the protest.
About 60 organisations of students and of elected office-bearers of some universities are joining the strike to raise their voice against increased fees and the commercialisation of education.
ALSO READ
Ticket inspectors save passenger from coming under Mumbai-Kolhapur train
CR to undertake spl block on Sunday to facilitate Carnac Bridge girder launch
Mumbai: Anganwadi strike puts kids’ health in jeopardy
Mumbai: Central Railway to operate mega block on September 10, check details
Mumbai: Two Central Railway local trains near-miss head-on collision at CSMT
However, students' unions which were planning agitations in support of the strike rolled back their protest plans. Suvarna Salve, a member of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice, Mumbai, said, "We will make Bharat Bandh a success by creating awareness among people. Cease work for a day as we support the trade unions' strike."
Aadesh Bansode from the Lokshahi Yuva Sanghatna, one of the participating trade unions said, "The government has rolled back the 44 labour laws and are going to introduce four codes instead. These codes are completely anti-labour. We are against these anti-labour codes and other issues such as inflation, unemployment, CAA and NRC."
Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
