Bharat Bandh 21 August 2024: Emergency Services, Banks, Schools to be Open or Closed Tomorrow? Check Details

The reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has called for an India strike on Wednesday, August 21, in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations.

The India Strike has received strong support from the SC/ST community in Rajasthan. The protest is expected to see widespread participation across the country as well. The government has directed the authorities concerned to take appropriate steps to ensure law and order during the protest.

What was the Supreme Court’s decision on SC/ST reservation?

The seven-member Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud ruled by a 6:1 majority that states can further divide SCs and STs into subgroups. This will allow states to more effectively allocate quotas to those in these communities who suffer the most from discrimination.

The court said, “Scheduled Castes are not a single, unified group. State governments can create sub-categories within them to ensure that those who suffer greater discrimination get a larger share of the 15% reserved seats.”

Reasons behind the strike in India

The main reason behind the protests is the Supreme Court ruling that allowed different states to segment the SC/ST community based on the level of discrimination they face.

The ruling was designed to focus retention money on those most in need, but it was met with strong opposition from various social and political groups.

Critics say the decision undermines the core principles of the reservation system and there have been calls for a strike in India to reverse the decision.

Will markets be closed during the strike in India?

The Bajo Sangarsh Committee of the reservation has asked all businesses to close in support of the protest.

However, it is unclear whether markets across the country will actually be closed as no official communication has been received from the market committee, The Times of India reported.

Which services will remain open?

According to media reports, the strike in India may affect some services. However, emergency services, including medical assistance, will apparently operate normally throughout the day.

Please see the table below to see which services will continue to operate on August 21:

Services/Operations

Status during a strike

Public Transportation

May be affected

Private sector business

May be affected

Ambulance (essential service)

Will continue to play a role

Government Offices

Will remain open

bank

Will remain open

Schools and Colleges

Will remain open

Gasoline pump

Will remain open

Health care (emergency services)

Will continue to operate

drinking water

Will continue to operate

Rail Services

Will continue to operate

Power supply

Will continue to operate

The call for a strike in India is expected to gain support across the country. Protests against the Supreme Court ruling are expected to lead to disruptions to some services, such as public transportation. However, schools, banks and government offices will remain open during the protests.

Also read: List of Chairmen of the 6 Reorganized Parliamentary Committees