By IANS
Kolkata : A nationwide shutdown Wednesday called by a communist trade union demanding better working conditions for the country’s 360 million unorganised sector workers evoked mixed response in the Left-ruled West Bengal and Kerala while it brought life to a halt in Tripura.
There was not much response to the strike call in other parts of the country by the Centre for Indian Trade Union (CITU), affiliated with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) which spearheads the Left Front governments in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.
While the strike was partial in West Bengal and Kerala, in Tripura it was complete as life was crippled by the closure of markets, shops and business establishments. Roads wore a deserted look while the rail and air traffic to and from Tripura was also disturbed.
Most educational institutions remained closed and attendance in government and private offices was also very thin.
“The strike is peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the state,” police spokesman Nepal Das said in state capital Agartala.
Pijush Nag, secretary of the Tripura unit of CITU, said: “Hundreds and thousands of unorganised workers belonging to 32 professions took part in the strike which turned into a general shutdown.”
In Kolkata, taxis and auto rickshaws were scarce on the roads. Few buses, mini buses and trams plied on their regular routes though they were kept outside the purview of the strike this time.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and other CPI-M and CITU leaders had assured that the 24-hour shutdown would not affect the lives of common people. But CITU activists were seen asking auto rickshaw and taxi drivers not to ply their vehicles.
Behala, Ranikuthi, Tollygunge, Chetla, Bhawanipur, Posta and many other areas in Kolkata were paralysed because of the absence of adequate public transport. The number of passengers on local trains and buses was also less than normal.
Kali Ghosh, state secretary of CITU, had said Tuesday: “We do not want it to take the shape of a general strike, which is why we have exempted private buses and mini buses. Some sections are talking about CITU paralysing the entire state transport in West Bengal, which is not true.”
Railway commuters getting down at major stations like Howrah and Sealdah had a harrowing time because very few taxis were available. People flying into Kolkata also faced inconvenience.
According to sources, only 25 percent of the total buses were plying in Howrah, the twin district of Kolkata, affecting regular commuters.
Some sporadic clashes were reported in different parts of the city and other districts where CITU activists tried to make the shutdown a success using force.
In Murshidabad and Siliguri districts, CITU supporters reportedly got involved in minor clashes with workers employed in unorganised sectors. They also allegedly beat up shopkeepers in Siliguri who had opened their stores.
Life in Kerala was partially affected as major markets in the state remained closed and trucks coming from the Tamil Nadu border preferred to halt for a day.
Although most educational institutions were open, universities postponed examinations. A few schools declared a holiday.
Both private and government offices were open. Most private buses went off the roads.
The CITU called the 24-hour shutdown demanding fulfilment of their 15-point charter of demands for the benefits of workers employed in the unorganised sectors. The charter includes framing a comprehensive legislation on social security for such workers.