Rajasthan banks pay a hefty price of Rs 10,000 crore as a result of today's trade-union strike

Banks in Rajasthan suffered a business loss of Rs 10,000 crore as a result of today's nationwide strike of ten central trade unions, excluding Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh, against changes in labour laws and privatisation of PSUs.

Banking services in 3,500 branches remained suspended as over 30,000 employees and officers affiliated to 14 banks organisation abstained from work, said Mahesh Mishra, General Secretary, Rajasthan Bank Employees Union.

Bankers also held a demonstration-cum-rally demanding settlement of their demands near Shaheed Smarak on MI Road here.

Besides, transport and other services were also hit in parts of Rajasthan, while state roadways buses, barring in Banswara and Baran districts, did not ply.

"Most of the 4,900 buses did not ply in Rajasthan today as a result of the strike. Though several employees are working in the headquarters, operations of buses have been hit," said a state roadways official.

Several demonstrations were held across the state though no untoward incident was reported, police said.

The unions are demanding minimum monthly wage of Rs 15,000, health care, rehabilitation of bonded labourers, regulation of working hours for domestic workers, food security, and unemployment allowance, among others.

Meanwhile, in a statement Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Sachin Pilot criticised the BJP government for neglecting wages and labour laws of lakhs of employees.

This kind of chaos in public erupted due to insensitive and faulty policies of the BJP-led NDA government at Centre, he alleged.

Image credit: Indiatimes