Bharat Bandh on February 16: What’s Open, What’s close

Bharat Bandh on February 16: Farmer organizations have called for Grameen Bharat Bandh on February 16 demanding fulfillment of various demands. The main demands of the protesting farmers and trade unions include pension for farmers, MSP for crops, implementation of old pension scheme and withdrawal of amendment in labor laws.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which had launched the Delhi Chalo movement for the fulfillment of many demands, has now called for a rural Bharat Bandh on February 16. Under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), farmers’ unions along with central trade unions have called for a countrywide strike called Gramin Bharat Bandh on February 16 to place their other demands before the central government.

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The Gramin Bharat Bandh called by SKM and trade unions will be held on February 16 from 6 am to 4 pm.
What are the demands of farmers:

The main demands of the protesting farmers and trade unions are pension for farmers, MSP for crops, implementation of old pension scheme and withdrawal of amendment in labor laws. These include contract of employees, guaranteed employment etc.

Still, other demands include issues related to employees such as withdrawal of implementation of Operational Performance-Linked Salary (OPS), amendments to labor laws and several other demands before the government.

Farmers are trying to strengthen the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), restore the old pension scheme and ensure pension and social security for all in the formal and informal sectors.

All Services Affected on Feb 16 During the day-long Bharat Bandh on February 16, transport, agricultural activities, MNREGA rural works, private offices, village shops and rural industrial and service sector establishments will remain closed.

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Further, it has been clarified that emergency services such as operation of ambulances, newspaper delivery, marriage, medical shops, students going for board exams etc. will not be stopped during the strike.

Farmers are not criminals: Swaminathan’s daughter Madhura said farmers should not look at criminals as if they have committed a crime. Among the many demands of the protesting farmers is the implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report. Swaminathan’s National Commission for Farmers submitted a total of five reports between December 2004 and 2006.