Banking, insurance and postal services in Jamshedpur and the entire Kolhan region comprising of three districts – East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan were affected on Thursday as various trade unions joined the nationwide strike to protest the policies of the Narendra Modi government, including the new labour and farm laws.

All public and private sector banks, except for the State Bank of India, remained closed. The offices of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and post offices also kept their shutters down and did not transact any business as workers joined the strike.

Various central trade union organisations participated in the strike including Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC), Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU).

The BJP-aligned Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) did not participate in the strike.

Members of various trade unions with placards and banners assembled at the Ambagan grounds in Sakchi. They raised slogans against the policies of the central government. Later, they formed a human chain. Veteran trade union leader Rakeshwar Pandey also participated in the human chain opposing the policies of the centre.

General secretary of AITUC Ambuj Thakur, who was leading the stir at the Ambagan ground said, “We got an overwhelming response of the strike in Kolhan. The strike was called to oppose the policies of the centre which is anti-labour. We are against privatisation public sector units, commercialisation of mines, new labour and farm laws.”

The strike failed to have any impact on production activities at factories based on steel city and Adityapur industrial area in adjoining Saraikela-Kharsawan district.