Normal functioning is likely to be affected on Wednesday and Thursday owing to the nationwide strike called by Central trade unions against the Union government’s “people-unfriendly policies”.
Public transport will be hit with some taxi drivers’ unions also pledging support to the strike, already backed by the autorickshaw drivers’ union, KSRTC and BMTC employees’ unions.
With the Bangalore District Taxi Drivers Union, affiliated to CITU, deciding to back the strike, nearly 750 airport taxi drivers and 400 call centre cab drivers will remain off the roads. These taxis cater to companies at the Manyata Tech Park and Electronics City here.
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The Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association, with nearly 80,000 taxis in the city, will not support the strike.
Olacabs, a private cab service company, has offered to run its vehicles at autorickshaw fares on the two days in Bangalore. Commuters can book 24 hours in advance by calling 080-33553355 or visit www.olacabs.com
Public sector bank employees too are participating in the strike.
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Exams postponed
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ISCE), in a release here on Monday, announced that certain papers under the ISC Board have been rescheduled.
The art paper 3 exam, originally scheduled for February 21, will now be held on February 25; the environmental science paper 1 (theory) and environmental education paper 1 (theory) have been postponed from February 20 to April 1.
Bangalore University too has decided to postpone first semester postgraduate exams scheduled for February 20 and 21, to 22.
Schools to wait
However, with no official communication from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), schools have decided to adopt a wait and watch policy. S.R. Umashankar, Commissioner, DPI, said it was up to the local deputy commissioners to take a call.
Most school managements said they would decide by Tuesday afternoon.
On the other hand, some organisations have decided not to support the nationwide strike. A statement from the Akhila Karnataka State Government Employees’ Federation said its members would not take part in the strike as none of the demands of State government employees were being addressed.
In a statement, the Karnataka Employers’ Association has appealed to trade unions to call off the strike.