Nationwide strike hits normal life in Manipur; banking, transport, and services affected

IMPHAL — The nationwide general strike called by a forum of 10 central trade unions and their affiliated organisations disrupted normal life in Manipur on Wednesday, as employees across various sectors—including banking, insurance, postal services, and transport—joined the protest against the government’s policies.

In Imphal, members of several trade unions and bank employees staged a demonstration at MG Avenue despite heavy rain, pressing for the restoration of the old pension scheme, strengthening of public sector institutions, and addressing a broad range of labour and socio-economic issues.

“We’re demanding the old pension scheme by scrapping the New Pension Scheme,” said S. Indrakumar, General Secretary of the Manipur Bank Employees Federation. “Stop privatisation and disinvestment, stop attacks on trade union rights and ensure adequate recruitments.”

Protesters, many of them bank employees, carried placards and raised slogans supporting a charter of demands that includes the repeal of amendments to the Banking Regulation Act and opposition to structural changes in the cooperative banking sector. As a result, operations at all 19 nationalised and cooperative banks, as well as insurance and postal services across the state, were suspended.

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The All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ Union also supported the strike, halting its daily operations. With school van drivers joining the protest, most educational institutions in and around Imphal remained closed. Passenger vehicle services were also suspended, resulting in sparse traffic on roads leading to the capital.

L. Sotinkumar, CPI leader and key member of the Co-ordinating Body of Trade Unions, Manipur, described the strike as a success, blaming the central government's policies for public dissatisfaction.

“The government’s actions are increasingly affecting the common people,” he said, adding that the public and transport workers are demanding safe passage on national highways and long-term peace in the state.

Several major organisations, including the All India State Government Employees’ Federation, Manipur Government Services Federation (MGSF), Manipur State Pensioners’ Union, and the Bank Employees’ Association, participated in the strike.

In Jiribam, the local unit of the MGSF also extended full support to the nationwide protest.

Read more: Nationwide strike by trade unions in protest against Centre's 'anti-labour' policies