12-Hour Bharat Bandh to Paralyze Odisha: Transport and Services at Risk
Bhubaneswar: Central trade unions, farmer organisations, and Left parties have called for a 12-hour Bharat Bandh across Odisha on Thursday, from 6 am to 6 pm, which is expected to severely disrupt rail and road traffic throughout the state. This widespread shutdown is a protest against the implementation of new labour codes and various issues affecting farmers and workers, with potential impacts extending to banking services, government offices, educational institutions, markets, and other establishments.
Nationwide Strike and Key Demands
The bandh is part of a coordinated nationwide general strike and hartal announced by a joint platform of major central trade unions, including INTUC, AITUC, CITU, and AICCTU, along with independent federations. These groups have put forward a 12-point charter of demands to address pressing concerns. Left parties such as the CPI, CPM, CPI(ML) Liberation, and the All India Forward Bloc have jointly appealed for public support to ensure the bandh is "completely successful," emphasizing the urgency of their grievances.
Specific Demands from State Leaders
CPM state secretary Suresh Chandra Panigrahy has outlined several critical demands, urging the government to repeal the four labour codes, withdraw the VB-GramG Act-2025, and restore provisions of the MGNREGA Act. Additionally, he has called for granting worker status to scheme employees, including anganwadi workers, ASHAs, mid-day meal cooks, Udyan Sathi, gram panchayat employees, and Jeevika Mission workers, to ensure better rights and protections.
Mahendra Parida, coordinator of the united forum of trade unions in Odisha, has highlighted further issues, demanding the repeal of the Shram Shakti Policy-2025, an end to disinvestment and privatisation of public sector enterprises, and the withdrawal of what he describes as anti-farmer agriculture laws. He also insists on enacting a central law to provide minimum support price for agricultural produce, as assured in Parliament, and cites rising prices as a significant concern affecting the populace.
Protest Activities and Exemptions
To enforce the bandh, organisers plan to conduct picketing at busy locations and outside key government offices across Odisha. Rail roko and hartal programmes will be organised at various places throughout the state, aiming to draw attention to their causes. In Bhubaneswar, a procession is scheduled for 12.45 pm, starting from Raj Mahal Square and proceeding to Lower PMG, specifically to protest against the labour codes. Despite these disruptions, essential services such as patient care, ambulance services, fire services, and water supply will be exempted to minimize harm to public welfare.
The Bharat Bandh reflects growing discontent among workers and farmers, with Odisha poised for significant operational challenges as these groups unite to voice their demands for policy changes and improved conditions.
