West Bengal has achieved the dubious distinction of topping the chart for industrial strikes and lockouts despite its push for industrialisation and attracting investment.
The state was followed by highly progressive Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, among the country's top investment destinations, in experiencing the most strikes and lockouts during the first nine months of the past year, said the pre-Budget conomic Survey tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.
In January-September 2006, there were 154 strikes and 192 lockouts across the country that resulted in the loss of 3.16 million mandays and 10.60 million mandays respectively, said he Survey, which did not give detailed figures for individual states.
The good news, however, was an improvement in industrial relations, reflected by a 4.4 per cent decline in strikes and lockouts since 2005.
The Survey said there were 227 strikes in 2005, resulting in the loss of 10.81 million mandays, while the number of lockouts stood at 229 with a loss of 18.86 million mandays.
Industrial disturbances were concentrated mainly in the textile, financial intermediaries (excluding insurance and pension fund), engineering and chemical industries, the Survey said.
"The continued decline in the number of strikes and lockouts indicates an improvement in industrial relations in the country," the Survey said.
More from rediff