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Mixed response to India workers' strike Mixed response to India workers' strike
(about 4 hours later)
Indian workers have begun a strike against high inflation and to demand better working conditions and an end to selling off state firms. A strike called by most of India's major trade unions has had a mixed response, with banks and transport services shut down in some areas.
The strike has the support of most of India's major trade unions and thousands of smaller unions from across the political spectrum. Banks in Mumbai, the financial capital, were closed, with one union official saying there had been a "complete shutdown" in the sector.
Banks, transport, post offices and ports are thought most likely to be affected by the industrial action. Shops and offices in Calcutta were shut and roads almost empty of traffic while the capital Delhi was little affected.
But services on India's rail network are not expected to be disrupted. The strikers are demanding better conditions and anti-inflation measures.
States such as West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala, where the communist parties have greater influence, had been expected to be most affected by the strike. Services on India's rail network have not been disrupted, but passengers arriving at Delhi's main station had trouble finding transport to other parts of the city, AFP news agency says.
Most roads in Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal, are deserted with very little traffic, says the BBC's Amitabha Bhattashali. 'Everything normal'
Public transport is thin and most shops are closed, our correspondent says. Many people stayed back in their offices on Monday to make sure that they could attend work on Tuesday. The one-day strike has the support of most of India's major trade unions and thousands of smaller unions from across the political spectrum.
Most roads in Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal state, are deserted with very little traffic, says the BBC's Amitabha Bhattashali.
Public transport services have been badly hit and most shops are closed, our correspondent says. Many people stayed back in their offices on Monday to make sure that they could attend work on Tuesday.
However, the city's metro railway network was running normally and flight operations from the domestic and international airports were on schedule, the Press Trust of India news agency said.However, the city's metro railway network was running normally and flight operations from the domestic and international airports were on schedule, the Press Trust of India news agency said.
"Everything has been normal so far. Things are going on well. Tight security arrangements are in place with 400 police pickets set up in various parts of the city," police commissioner RK Pachnanda said."Everything has been normal so far. Things are going on well. Tight security arrangements are in place with 400 police pickets set up in various parts of the city," police commissioner RK Pachnanda said.
TV channels reported that the strike was having little impact in Delhi and Mumbai. Indian media reported that the strike was having little impact in Delhi and Mumbai, apart from the closure of banks.
Although India's inflation rate dropped from 9.1% in December, it remains stubbornly high at 7.5%. The strikers have been calling for a nationwide minimum wage, social security benefits such as pensions for all workers, permanent jobs for contract workers, better enforcement of labour laws and an end to selling off profitable state-owned firms.
Growth for the financial year ending in March is also expected to be around 7%, lower than the previous forecasts of about 9%. Although India's inflation rate dropped from 9.1% in December, it remains stubbornly high at 7.5%. The strikers also want improved efforts to bring the rate down.
The government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is trying to cut its budget deficit by selling stakes in state-run companies - something the unions object to. India's economy has slowed in recent months, with growth for the year ending in March expected to be around 7%, lower than the previous forecasts of about 9%.
Other demands include measures to curb inflation, universal social security cover for non-unionised workers and enforcement of labour laws. The government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is trying to cut its budget deficit by selling state firms.