Ranchi, Jul 9 (PTI) Trade unions in Jharkhand claimed that coal, banking and other sectors were affected by the nationwide strike called to oppose the central government's policies, including the four new labour codes.
The nationwide general strike has been called by the Joint Platform of Trade Unions, which comprises 10 central trade unions (CTUs) along with independent all-India sectoral federations and associations.
The strike was supported by the trade unions and political parties, including the Left, JMM, Congress and the RJD in the state.
The trade union leaders claimed that the production, loading and dispatch of coal in Jharkhand-based mines have been completely affected as coal miners were on strike.
The officials of BCCL, CCL and ECL, however, said that there was no major impact.
The officials said they would issue a bulletin on the bandh's impact after the final assessment in the evening.
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) national vice-president Brajendra Prasad Singh claimed the strike was a success as workers in the mining, banking and insurance, among other sectors, were on strike.
The deputy general secretary of the Bank of India Employees Union in Jharkhand, Umesh Das, said that banking services remained affected in all banks, except the State Bank of India and private banks.
In Ranchi, different trade unions and workers from various political parties such as the Left, JMM, Congress and RJD jointly took out two rallies in support of their 17-point charter of demands, including the repeal of the four labour codes.
The rallies were taken out from Sainik Market and Kutchery and they culminated in a public meeting at Albert Ekka Chowk.
"The four labour codes were made to exploit workers by weakening their protections and reducing social security benefits," All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Jharkhand unit general secretary Suvendu Sen said.
However, the impact of the strike was not witnessed in the streets and markets of the state capital.
Public transport also remained unaffected.
In Ramgarh, coal production has been affected due to the strike.
Ajay Kumar Singh, the general manager of the Barka-Sayal area under Central Coalfields Limited's jurisdiction in Ramgarh, said that coal production and dispatch were affected in various coal projects.
CCL’s Rajrappa area saw a partial impact of the strike, said Kalyanji Prasad, the general manager of the Rajrappa area.
In Hazaribag, bandh supporters blocked the Zila Parishad Chowk connecting National Highway 33 for some time, but it was later cleared by the police.
The union leaders claimed coal production was badly affected in the Charhi area.
The Hazaribag administration, however, claimed there was no impact of the strike on coal production.
The strike supporters also blocked roads in several places in the Palamu district.
In Bokaro district’s Bermo, bandh supporters sat on the tracks at Bermo railway station attempting to block the movement of a goods train. After the administration’s intervention, the agitators vacated the place.
CPI state secretary Mahendra Pathak said the strike was called to oppose the central government's "anti-worker policies".
"Our demands include doing away with the four labour codes, contractualisation, privatisation of PSUs, increasing minimum wages among others," he said.
The general strike, initially scheduled for May 20, was postponed following the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor.