Bharat Bandh Threatens Services Nationwide

By Sulagna Halder 

New Delhi, 8 July 2025:

More than 25 crore employees across India will join nationwide Bharat Bandh on Wednesday as the central trade unions and the farmers movements stage a protest against what they term as anti worker, anti farmer and pro corporate policies of the Central Government. The 24 hour strike at 6 am to 6 am will cause a great effect in banking facilities, transport, postal activities and government offices.

All the major central trade unions that include INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, and UTUC have declared the bandh in unison. A number of farmer and agricultural labourer federations have contributed to support the strike and there are fears that the rural economic activity and agricultural markets might also grind to a halt.

The unions have issued a 17 point charter of demands. These comprise alcohol ban, minimum wage of 26,000 rupees per month, abolishing of fixed term employment, halting privatisation of the government undertakings, enhancing of the public distribution system and reviving of the Old Pension Scheme. The protestors have also complained against the fact that the Centre has not met Indian Labour Conference (ILC) in more than a decade.

Employees in industries like banking, transport, insurance, coal and power have shown their willingness to be involved through a show of force to demonstrate their intention of the same. Bank unions have already cautioned the customers on waiting time on services such as cheque clearance, cash transactions, and digital banking services as a result of unavailability of staff. The process of transportation to such states as Kerala, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha is the most probable to be impaired since local unions have demanded a complete turnout.

The departments in the government and other public sector undertakings have also issued circulars to the employees alerting them that striking will lead to a reduction in wages as well as scrutiny and possible reprimand. This is an issue of indiscipline and other absences without permission will be dealt with accordingly said an advisory issued by the Ministry of Personnel.

The task of the police in all big cities is extreme to eliminate possible acts of violence. Sporadic clashes and vandalism have occurred during other strikes of the kind in the past. Policemen have requested protestors to respect calm and not to spoil necessary services.

Political pundits observe that the size and planning of this attack will gauge frustration among the working men in India. It can be seen how this will change policies.