Bharat Bandh In Kerala: Schools Empty, Shops Closed, Public Transport Impacted; Kozhikode At Standstill

Kerala has taken a huge hit from the nationwide strike on July 9. Daily life in the Kozhikode district came to a standstill as trade union workers protested in front of the Pavangad depot, halting KSRTC services. Further, many train passengers are stranded at the Kozhikode railway station, as there are no taxi and auto rickshaw services. Other places like Ernakulam, Kochi and other regions as well.

Bharat Bandh In Kerala:

In the early hours of July 9, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had attempted to operate a few rural and city services. However, they faced immense difficulty as trade union workers stormed the Pavangad depot. As per reports, KSRTC has stated that the local services could be available only with police protection.

However, KSRTC has stated that long-distance services were operating. Apart from this, the Kozhikode railway station was flooded with stranded passengers as they tried to avail of transport services. The taxi operators have joined the protest, while a few auto rickshaws that did work in the morning, have halted their services too. Many train passengers had to arrange their personal private commute.

Amidst the chaos and disruption to public transport, a group of volunteers called 'Helping hands of Kozhikode' took to the road to help many stranded senior citizens. Many young citizens also joined these volunteers.

According to reports, the police authorities have appointed additional patrol squads in Kozhikode's sensitive areas. As of now, no clashes or injuries have been reported.

In Kozhikode, overall, life has been brought to a standstill as services are closed. Banks, public transport, shops, restaurants and offices are in lockdown.

Also, normal life took a hit in the region of Ernakulam. Essential shops, restaurants and commercial establishments remained closed. Private buses stayed away from the roads, while public transport was impacted.

In Thiruvananthapuram's MG Road, streets were empty as shops remained closed.

Notably, the Kerala general education minister, V. Sivankutty of CPM, showing his solidarity with the nationwide strike, has preferred to walk into his party office in Thiruvanathapuram.

Moreover, workers were seen protesting outside Kochi refineries.

However, in the regions of Kannur, the situation was also bleak. As per reports, a group of protestors had deflated the tires of seven cars. One of the cars that was stopped was carrying 15 teachers of Nedungom Government Higher Secondary School in the Kannur district.

Also, educational institutions were impacted. Teachers are RSS affiliated, and they remained in school, but no students appeared for the day. Also, a teacher was reportedly locked up at the Government UP School at Parappa near Vellarikind in Kasargod district, just because she opened the school. The local police had to intervene to get the teacher released.

Over 25 crore protestors have carried out a general protest across India, opposing "the anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the government."

In a statement, a forum of 10 central trade unions and their associates has urged the protestors to make this nationwide strike a grand success. Both organised and unorganised economy workers are marching in the general strike on July 9.

Last year, the forum submitted a 17-point demand to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandavia, the workers' union forum.

One of the concerns raised was that the Government has not conducted any annual labor conferences for the last 10 years and has continued to take decisions in the interest of the labor force, attempting to impose four labor codes to weaken collective bargaining, to cripple unions' activities, and to favour employers in the name of 'ease of doing business.'

Further, the forum claimed that the economic policies have pushed a surge in unemployment, a spike in prices of essential commodities, a depression in wages, and a cut in social sector spending in education, health, and basic civic amenities.

The forum pointed out that trade unions have been fighting against "privatisation of public sector enterprises and public services, policies of outsourcing, contractorisation and casualisation of workforce".