- Title: INDIA: RAILWAY STRIKE DELAYS VITAL FOOD-SUPPLIES FOR DROUGHT-STRICKEN AREAS.
- Date: 5th August 1973
- Summary: 1. GV Deserted station near Delhi (3 shots) 0.14 2. GV Delhi main station 0.19 3. SV Porters and passengers sitting around 0.27 4. GV Freight piling up on platform 0.32 5. GV Railway track 0.37 6. GV & SV Police officer detailing his men for duty (2 shots) 0.54 7. GV Goods yard with laden trucks (7 shots) 1.30 Initials BB/0116 JT/AH/BB/0139 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th August 1973 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- Country: India
- Reuters ID: LVA10FCTV7TNWSHBTRS5XCW2M1MQ
- Story Text: Vital food-supplies for drought-stricken areas of India were piling up in New Delhi on Saturday (August 4th) as a strike by railway workers entered its fourth day. The strike, called by the All-India Loco-Running Staff Association, was particularly disruptive on the Northern Railway.
The strike is in protest against non-recognition of the Association and alleged victimization of men who took part in another strike last May. That strike was outlawed by a Government edict, and some men were arrested. A spokesman for the Railways Board said on August 2nd that there had been no victimization and that the arrested men had been released, but Mr. Sindi for the strikers said that legal action against organisers had not been dropped. About 150 men have been arrested during this present strike, but it was reported that the government had offered to release all of them so that negotiations could begin.
Priority has been given to the movement of commodities but emergency services have been hampered by the empty coaches and trains abandoned on the tracks. It was reported that the strike had halved the movement of food to areas facing drought and famine. The Indian President, Mr. V.V. Giri, said the food crisis was the worst since Independence in 1948. There have already been food riots and looting.
SYNOPSIS: Railway stations in many parts of India were deserted on Saturday as a strike by railway workers entered its fourth day. It has been preventing food-supplies from getting to drought and famine-stricken areas.
The Northern Railway with its centre at New Delhi was worst affected.
The All-India Loco Running Staff Association, who called the strike, claim that it has paralysed train services. The strike is in protest against non-recognition of the union by the Railway Board and victimization of men who took part in another strike last May. That strike was outlawed under a Government edict, and some men were arrested. The police have made over a hundred arrests during this strike, but it was reported that the government had offered to release all of them so that negotiations could begin.
Priority has been given to the movement of commodities, but emergency services have been hampered by empty coaches and trains abandoned on the track. It was reported that the strike had halved the movement of food to areas suffering severe grain shortages because of the drought. The Indian President, Mr. V.V. Giri, has said the food crisis is the worst since Independence in 1948, and there has already been food-riots and looting in some areas.
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