TNI Bureau: A nationwide 24-hour general strike will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2025, supported by agricultural, rural, and informal sector workers. The strike has been jointly called by 14 national trade unions along with employees and teachers of Central and State services, public sector workers, and independent unions. The Odisha Congress has announced its full support for the bandh in the state.

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur told PTI that over 30 crore workers are expected to participate, compared to about 25 crore workers who joined a similar protest in July last year.

The strike has been called to demand the repeal of the four labour codes and the rollback of policies perceived as anti-worker and anti-farmer. Key demands include restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), strengthening of MGNREGS, withdrawal of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and protection of civil service structures. Farmers’ organisations, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have also raised concerns over the India–US interim trade framework, alleging it could harm Indian farmers.

The protest is expected to affect more than 600 districts across the country. Odisha and Assam are likely to witness complete shutdowns, while major disruptions are expected in several other states. Banking services, transport operations, and government offices may be affected. However, essential services such as hospitals, ambulance services, airports, medical facilities, private offices, and ATMs will remain operational.

There is no official nationwide holiday for educational institutions, but schools and colleges in states such as Kerala, Odisha, and West Bengal are likely to remain closed due to strong local support for the strike.

Commuters should prepare for possible road blockades or “chakka jam” in many areas. State-run buses and auto-rickshaws may suspend services in affected regions, while access to railway stations and airports could be disrupted. Wholesale markets and retail shops in union-strong states are also likely to remain shut.

Public sector banking services may be affected as employee unions, including the All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA), and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), have joined the strike.