As the nation braces for a Bharat Bandh on August 21, 2024, there has been significant anticipation regarding the impact on daily activities and essential services.
The call for the nationwide protest has raised concerns about the functioning of various sectors, including banking, postal services, and government offices. However, it has been confirmed that despite the bandh, these critical services will remain operational, ensuring minimal disruption to the public. The organisers of the Bharat Bandh have demanded the closure of all commercial establishments across the country to press their demands. In response, law enforcement agencies have been directed to take proactive measures to maintain peace and order during the demonstration.
This move is aimed at preventing any escalation of tensions and ensuring the safety of citizens. While the protest has generated considerable attention, market committees across the country have not officially announced any shutdowns. This has led to some uncertainty about whether the bandh will affect markets on a national scale. However, based on the current indications, it appears that the impact on the market may be limited, with no widespread closures expected.
Importantly, key sectors such as government offices, banks, and post offices will continue to operate as usual. This decision ensures that essential services, including financial transactions, postal deliveries, and administrative functions, remain unaffected. Educational institutions and fuel stations are also expected to function normally, providing further reassurance to the public. Moreover, critical services such as healthcare, water supply, electricity, train services, and public transportation will continue to run without interruption, underscoring the government’s commitment to maintaining normalcy amidst the protest.
Looking ahead, it is important to note that August is a month marked by several public holidays, varying across states. Banks, for instance, will observe holidays on occasions such as Ker Puja, Tendong Lho Rum Faat, Patriot’s Day, Independence Day, Parsi New Year (Shahenshahi), Raksha Bandhan, Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi, and Janmashtami (Shravan Vad-8). These holidays are state-specific and fall under the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) categorisation of holidays, which include the Negotiable Instruments Act, the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) Holiday, and the Banks’ Closing of Accounts.
Of particular note is the upcoming long weekend towards the end of August, specifically on Monday, August 26, which coincides with Janmashtami (Shravan Vad-8)/Krishna Jayanthi. This holiday will result in bank closures across several states, including Gujarat, Orissa, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Jammu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, and Srinagar. Given that it follows the fourth Saturday and Sunday, residents in these states can expect an extended break.
