The nationwide strike called by various central trade unions to focus attention on anti-labour policies of the government, rising prices and divestment in the Public Sector Undertakings evoked a mixed reaction in the Nilgiris district on Tuesday.
Buses of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) except those on the Nilgiris-Kerala route plied as usual.
Mini buses, autorickshaws, taxies and jeeps were on the road and train services were not affected. However all the banks remained closed.
Employees of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the Insurance Companies abstained from work.
Thousands of persons including plantation labourers took out a procession in Pandhalur. State and Central government employees staged demonstrations in ten places including Ooty, Kotagiri, Manjoor, Coonoor and Pandhalur. Work in the various offices was hot as many of the employees joined the demonstrations.
Stating that elaborate security arrangements had been made and special teams sent to vulnerable areas,the Superintendent of Police, S. Nizamuddin told The Hindu that the day had passed off peacefully and no untoward incidents reported from any part of the district.
Deployment of police personnel was particularly heavy at the Cordite Factory in Aruvankadu as workers owing allegiance to two unions had joined the strike and those with another had attended work.
