The two women bus conductors – Padmasri Raje and Kalawati Narwade – and the other activists were arrested and then released on bail in the city of Nanded, Maharashtra state, after management called in the police. In Maharashtra, 97 percent of bus depots were closed because of blockades by ITF affiliate MSTKS, while strike action by taxi, truck and auto rickshaw drivers caused the entire road transport network to collapse.
The strike was held to protest against a proposed new bill (Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014) that paves the way for full-scale privatisation of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). The MSTKS said the bill would see among other things the registration of vehicles handed over to corporations as a first step, and the intention to fine or imprison drivers involved in road accidents.
The strike in Maharashtra state was called off on Thursday afternoon after an emergency meeting between state transport minister Divakar Raote and representatives of all transport unions in Mumbai. Unions reported that Raote committed to not implementing the bill so that the future of the owners and drivers of autorickshaws, taxis and buses in the state would not be jeopardised.
MSTKS general secretary Hanumant Tate said: “Our strike was so effective that the Maharashtra state transport minister called an emergency meeting with union leaders where he agreed not to implement this bill in Maharashtra.”
ITF women transport workers’ assistant co-ordinator Jodi Evans has just returned from India, where she was working closely with the MSTKS. She said that it was highly unusual in India for women to lead industrial action so the arrests of both men and women signalled the good progress on gender equality being made by the MSTKS.
