Odisha will be observing Bharat Bandh on February 12, Thursday, as central trade unions have announced a nationwide strike demanding the rollback of the four labour codes. Odisha is expected to observe a complete Bharat Bandh tomorrow and major services will remain impacted in the state.

With strong backing from farmer organisations, central trade unions have called for a nationwide strike on February 12, which is expected to cause significant disruptions across the country. In Odisha, the impact is likely to be felt in banking services, public transport, and routine business activities, particularly in public sector establishments.

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Odisha Bharat Bandh: What will remain open and closed?

Four major Left parties—CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, and Forward Block—have joined hands to support this strike in Odisha. The primary trigger for the strike is the implementation of four new labour codes introduced by the government last November, which replaced 29 existing labour laws. Trade unions have called for a Bharat Bandh to protest these changes and what they describe as increasing challenges faced by workers.

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What remains closed in Odisha tomorrow:

On Bharat Bandh, these services in Odisha will remain affected in Odisha tomorrow:

-Schools, colleges and educational institutions

-Banks and post offices

-Routine business activities

-Public transport

-Government offices and PSUs

-Shops and local markets in many areas

-Fuel pumps in some regions

-Industrial units and factories

-Road traffic due to protests, blockades, rallies

Bharat Bandh on Feb 12: What remains open in Odisha?

-Emergency services: hospitals, ambulances, pharmacies

-Essential services: water, electricity, fire services

-Private offices (many function but with low attendance)

-Airports and flights (operate normally)

-Trains (generally run, but may face delays if tracks are blocked)

-Metro services (often run, depending on city)

-Online services and e-commerce deliveries (may be delayed locally)

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Who has called the Bharat Bandh?

The Bharat Bandh has been jointly called by major trade unions, including the Confederation of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), All India Central Trade Union Confederation (AICCTU), LPF, and UTUC. It has also received support from farmer groups such as the United Kisan Morcha (SKM).

According to CITU, the labour codes will turn workers into “bonded labourers” under employers and push them back by nearly 100–150 years. The unions claim that these laws will exclude a large section of the workforce from the definition of ‘worker’, putting their livelihood and existence at risk.

Trade unions argue that existing labour laws were achieved through decades of struggle and sacrifice against British rule, and scrapping them is an attack on the Constitution. They have alleged that the labour codes are part of a larger conspiracy to weaken constitutional safeguards.

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