New Delhi [India], August 8 (ANI): The government has set a target to monetise infrastructure assets worth Rs 1.62 lakh crore in the current financial year, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said on Monday.

Mumbai Mar 28 PTI The nationwide strike had a limited impact in the financial capital on Monday with most of the services functioning normally Employees from Maharashtras power sector utilities joined the strike despite the threat of action against them but they had extensive negotiations with the states power minister Nitin Raut Besides employees from state-owned banks and insurers and old private sector lenders held a meeting at the Azad Maidan the citys official protesting ground In a statement Maharashtra State Bank Employees Federation claimed 5000 employees attended the protest Devidas Tuljapurkar General Secretary of Maharashtra State Banking Employees Federation said the workers will assemble for a protest at Horniman Circle in South Mumbai on Tuesday morning and try forming a human chain Ahead of the strike the city-headquartered SBI also the countrys largest lender had warned customers of some inconveniences Volume data from clearing houses and cash replenishment at Automated Teller Machines ATMs was not immediately available though the striking employees claimed that they had a deep impact There was no word about impact if any at the two ports in the city and its vicinity which also have unionised employees A day after threatening to impose the Maharashtra Essential Services Management Act MESMA Raut held a virtual meeting with the striking employees and assured them that none of the corporations will be privatised one of the key concerns of the employees according to a statement The minister has called for a face-to-face meeting with the employees on Tuesday and all the concerns expressed by them will be discussed as per the statement from the ministers office Shops and establishments functioned normally A joint forum of central trade unions has given a call for a nationwide strike on March 28 and 29 to protest against the government policies affecting workers farmers and people Their demands include the scrapping of the labour codes no privatisation in any form scrapping of the National Monetisation Pipeline NMP increased allocation of wages under MNREGA Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act and regularisation of contract workers PTI AA RAM

Guwahati Mar 28 PTI Public transport was off the road while services in the banking and other financial institutions were affected in Assam on Monday the first day of the nationwide strike called by central trade unions against various wrong policies of the governmentProtesters belonging to several trade unions were picked up when they tried to start a march in support of the two-day strike from the Guwahati Club point They were later released police said City and long-distance buses cab services auto-rickshaws and other commercial vehicles decided not to ply on the first day of the general strike leaving the commuters in the lurch Banks insurance companies and all other public sector institutional financial establishments remained closed as the employees did not report for their duties Tanker services of various oil companies were also hit as different unions took part in the strike A joint forum of central trade unions has given a call for a nationwide strike on March 28 and 29 to protest against the government policies affecting workers farmers and people Their demands include the scrapping of the labour codes no privatisation in any form scrapping of the National Monetisation Pipeline NMP increased allocation of wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and regularisation of contract workers The central trade unions that are part of this joint forum are INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF and UTUC The strike notices have been given by the unions in various sectors including coal steel oil telecom postal income tax copper banks and insurance PTI TR NN NN

Chennai Mar 28 PTI Buses run by state run transport corporations remained off the roads in most parts of Tamil Nadu hitting normalcy on Monday the first day of the two-day nationwide strike by central trade unions In view of unavailability of buses people were put to inconvenience and students in several places could be seen hitchhiking to schools and colleges and tourists in hill stations like Ooty had a tough time in finding other modes of transport services Private buses autorickshaws and share autorickshaws were crammed in several regions including Pudukottai and Dindigul and several complained of a steep increase in fares Operations in public sector banks were affected barring the State Bank of India and the Indian Overseas Bank according to an All India Bank Officers Association office-bearer Also a section of workers of a couple of scheduled private banks also took part in the strike he told PTI The strike was marked by demonstrations by workers and bank employees affiliated to various unions at various parts of the state In Chennai people flocked to suburban train stations Metrorail and Mass Rapid Transit System MRTS train stations to reach their destinations Only state-run buses are allowed here unlike several other parts of the state Barring a single route that connects suburban Poonamallee private buses are not operational here A joint forum of central trade unions had given a call for a nationwide strike on March 28 and 29 to protest against the government policies affecting workers farmers and people Their demands include the scrapping of the labour codes no privatisation in any form scrapping of the National Monetisation Pipeline NMP increased allocation of wages under MNREGA Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act and regularisation of contract workers among others PTI VGN SA SA

Bengaluru Mar 28 PTI The call for a nationwide strike by central trade unions to protest against the Centres wrong policies affecting farmers workers and common people did not affect normal life in Karnataka on Monday It was business as usual for transport services government offices and educational institutions However industrial belts in Bengaluru and some other parts of the state saw demonstrations by workers According to Prakash K of Centre of Indian Trade Unions CITU the protests and demonstrations took place in a decentralised manner in the state He claimed that banking and insurance services were hit In Bengaluru demonstrations took place in Peenya Industrial Area Bommanahalli Bommasandra KR Puram Yelahanka Bidadi Kengeri and Anekal Prakash told PTI Similarly there were protests in taluk headquarters in many parts of the state the trade union leader claimed He said there will be a centralised demonstration at Freedom Park here on Tuesday by the 10 trade unions including CITU AITUC and INTUC However the Bharat Mazdoor Sangh BMS did not participate in the two-day strike Prakash said A joint forum of central trade unions has given a call for a nationwide strike on March 28 and 29 to protest against the government policies Their demands include the scrapping of the labour codes no privatisation in any form scrapping of the National Monetisation Pipeline NMP increased allocation of wages under MNREGA Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act and regularisation of contract workers PTI GMS RS GMS HDA HDA

Agartala Mar 28 PTI The two-day nationwide strike called by major trade unions to protest against the central governments alleged wrong policies failed to evoke much response in the BJP-ruled Tripura on Monday the first day of the stir officials saidAttendance in government offices and educational institutions was normal Private schools however remained shut citing the safety of the students in the wake of the strikeVehicles were seen plying on roads while train services and flight operations were normalBanks financial institutions markets and business establishments remained open in Agartala the state capitalLife was normal across the state today despite the strike There was no detention or campaign in favour of the bandh in the state capital or elsewhere a senior police officer saidEarlier the Tripura government had said its offices will remain open on Monday and Tuesday The state authorities also mandated the employees to report for duty on these two daysAny exception to the government order will be viewed seriously a government notification issued on Saturday night readA joint forum of central trade unions has given the call for a nationwide strike on March 28 and 29 to protest against the government policies that are allegedly affecting workers farmers and people Their demands include the scrapping of the labour codes no privatisation of any form scrapping of the National Monetisation Pipeline NMP increased allocation of wages under MNREGA Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act and regularisation of contract workers among others The central trade unions that are part of this joint forum are INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF and UTUC PTI PS SBN NN NN

Chandigarh Mar 28 PTI Public transport services were affected in Haryana on Monday as the Roadways employees joined the two-day nationwide strike call given by a joint forum of the central trade unions to protest against the Centres alleged wrong policies that are affecting farmers workers and peopleCommuters had to face a tough time as the bus services remained suspended at several depots of Haryana RoadwaysThe roadways employees held protest at many depots in the state as part of the strikeSarbat Singh Punia a leader of the joint front of 10 unions of roadways employees said that in all the depots bus services are suspendedOnly a few buses which are run under the kilometre scheme were operated in the morning in Narnaul Jhajjar and Chandigarh depots by private operators Our roadways employees are observing a complete strike he saidHe alleged that the BJP led Haryana government was not strengthening the Haryana Roadways fleetThis indicates their intent to promote privatisation of the transport services There were 4200 buses in the Haryana Roadways fleet about six years back which have been reduced to 2600 now and route permits are given to promote private buses Haryana Roadways needs 10000 buses in its fleet but the government is not paying heed he claimedIn some districts prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed to maintain law and order during the strike under which a ban has been imposed on the gathering of five or more persons in a 100-metre area of the bus stands officials saidPunia claimed that employees and workers of some other departments including public sector banks and municipal bodies are also participating in the nationwide strikeMeanwhile public transport buses were plying normally in neighbouring Punjab officials saidOur bus services are running normally in Punjab an official of the State Transport Department saidNaresh Gaur Deputy General Secretary of Punjab Bank Employees Federation however said the employees of nationalised bank employees joined the strike and the banking services remained affected in PunjabCentral trade unions on Monday began a two-day nationwide strike to protest against the governments alleged wrong policiesA joint forum of central trade unions had given a call for a nationwide strike on March 28 and 29Their demands include the scrapping of the labour codes no privatisation of any form scrapping of the National Monetisation Pipeline NMP increased allocation of wages under MNREGA Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act and regularisation of contract workers among othersThe central trade unions that are part of this joint forum are INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF and UTUC PTI SUN VSD BAL BAL

New Delhi Mar 27 PTI Banking services may be hit partially on Monday and Tuesday as a section of bank employees unions has supported the two-day nationwide general strike called by trade unions The joint forum of central trade unions and various sectoral independent trade unions have given the strike call on Monday and Tuesday to protest against governments anti-people economic policies and anti-worker labour policies Their demands include scrapping of the labour codes no privatisation of any form scrapping of the National Monetisation Pipeline NMP increased allocation of wages under MNREGA and regularisation of contract workers among others AIBEA has decided to support this call and join this strike to focus on demands in the banking sectors All India Bank Employees Association AIBEA said Its general secretary C H Venkatachalam said the bank union demands the government to stop privatisation of public sector banks and strengthen them speedy recovery of bad loans higher deposit rates by banks lower service charges on customers as well as restoration of old pension scheme The AIBEA in public sector banks private banks foreign banks cooperative banks and regional rural banks will join the strike the bank union said in a statement A number of public sector banks including countrys largest lender SBI have said that their services may get impacted to a limited extent due to the strike SBI said it has made necessary arrangements to ensure normal functioning in its branches and offices on the days of strike It is likely that work at our bank may be impacted to a limited extent by the strike SBI said City-headquartered Punjab National Bank PNB said AIBEA Bank Employees Federation of India BEFI and All India Bank Officers Association AIBOA has served notices proposing to go on strike on March 28-29 2022 While bank has made all arrangements to ensure normal functioning in its branches and offices it is likely that work in our bank may be impacted to a limited extent by the strike PNB said Bengaluru-headquartered Canara Bank said it is taking necessary steps for smooth functioning of bank branches and offices However if the strike materialises the functioning of the bank may be impacted Canara Bank added Private sector RBL Bank said its bank unions are affiliated to AIBOA and AIBEA and the employees associated with these unions may participate in the strike The subject strike is for the issues at the industry bevel and is nowhere related at bank level issues The bank will take all necessary steps for smooth functioning of the banks branchesoffices on the days of strike However it is likely that some of our branches would also be impacted by the strike RBL said Besides the two-days strike the customer banking services may also get impacted on March 31st as RBI has asked the banks to participate in the exercise of annual closure of government accounts for the current fiscal year 2021-22 All government transactions done by agency banks for financial year 2021-22 must be accounted for within the same financial year All agency banks should keep their designated branches open for over the counter transactions related to government transactions up to the normal working hours on March 31 2022 the RBI said in a notification to banks Special clearing will be conducted on Thursday for collection of government cheques and RBI will issue necessary instructions in this regard PTI KPM MR MR

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 2 (ANI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday slammed the Central government over National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) by saying that the new scheme will create monopoly and duopoly in the economy.

Ithaca, (New York) [US], August 25 (ANI): Kaushik Basu, an economist from India and Professor at Cornell University, compared the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) with Goods and Services Tax (GST) and said that it is a good idea but risks too are involved in its implementation.