Imphal, September 05, 2010: Preparations for Tuesday's (September 7)'s dawn to dusk countrywide general strike to be called by the trades unions in association with nine national level political parties have been set in the state.

Protesting price rise, violation of labour laws and disinvestment of public sector units (PSUs), eight major trade unions, including INTUC and the trade unions affiliated to the Left parties, have called for a country-wide general strike on Sep 7.The strike would be effective from 6 am to 6 pm of the day.

In Manipur, Convener of the Co-ordination Committee of Trade Union, L Sotinkumar talking to reporters today at the office of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) today said that they were ready to impose the strike in right earnest in the state.

A strategy has been chalked by representatives of around 90 different bodies including those of rickshaw pullers, drivers, women vendors of Khwai market etc.

They have assured to extend support to the general strike, he claimed.

In the context of Manipur, the state unit of the trades unions are demanding a roll back of the prices of goods, to take appropriate actions against businessmen selling goods at exorbitant rates, to ensure PDS items reach the beneficiaries, he said.

They are also demanding development of NH-39, 53 and 150 into four-lane highways, stop the collection of illegal taxes on the national highways and setting up of a highway protection force, he added.

Reviving of public sector units, public transport system and provision of loan facilities, coverage of health insurance scheme to the women vendors and provision of space to street venders were the other demands of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Manipur branch, Sotinkumar said.

The union is also demanding government action on agreed demands of the government employees into works and implementation of UGC pay bands to college lecturers.

Further speaking to reporters, the convener said that when the prices of diesel, petrol and cooking LPG hiked Rs 2.50, Rs 3 per litre and Rs 15 respectively, the decision of the union government was greeted with a strike but in Manipur petrol sells at Rs 80 per litre, diesel at Rs 70 and LGP refilled cylinder at Rs 1500. In such a situation, calling a general strike is much more appropriate in Manipur and every section of the society should support it, he observed.

Secretary of IHTUC, a trade union affiliated to the Congress, and Rana Pratap and S Manglem as representatives of the Transporters' and Drivers' Council were also present.

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