What is the meaning of the word harthal? The utterance or reference of this single word denotes the closing of offices,shops, market places, schools and colleges and all other types of work as a mark of public protest or sorrow. This has been the most popular form of protest by gathering a lot of people against any activity of the government, and dates back to days of British colonial rule in India. In those days, the repressive actions perpetrated by the colonial British Government and princely states used to evoke mass protest and harthal was a conitinuation of the same movement. The word "Hartal" is Gujarati. In this language, Har" means "everything" or "always"; "Tal" or "tala" means "to close". Therefore, the word "harthal" means a day of mourning or protest, on which all the shops are shut and no-one goes to work or does any shopping. In the Independent India harthal is regarded as a nonviolent method used in political conflict and participation is voluntary. However, it is and should be distinguished from the culture of "bandh", it is a general strike, which is enforced by the threat of violence against strike breakers. Well, whatever is the meaning suspension of work in the name of harthal has come under the scanner of the public eye and has also been subject to great criticism. It is more or less felt, that the dedications of the past in organizing harthals is no longer evident, and in the name of protesting against an inhuman issue hooliganism becomes rampant. In the recent years, Kerala has suffered a great loss for a number of these harthals. The reason is, on an average, the total loss of production would be to the tune of Rs. 650-700 crore a day due to strikes and harthals.

A harthal week was observed in Kerala with effect from Feb.19 to Feb.25,with a relay of harthals on all days barring Feb.24,Sunday.thanks to the political system that prevails in the state. For a chart of the harthal schedules held by by various parties for different reasons, The concept of harthal has raised its status from a protest level to a celebration level.The general public,although unanimously vociferous in expressing their frustration on the havoc-causing harthals,seem to have attuned themselves well to the innumerable harthal calls,most of them preferring to stay indoors rather than risk damage to their property or life on harthal days.
 

Mass movement against hartal gathering momentum in state. With merchants coming out strongly against forced closing down of shops, a mass movement is gathering momentum in the state against frequent hartals that cripple normal life and cause a loss of Rs 650-700 crore a day to the state's economy. As per estimates the state's economy suffers a loss of more than Rs 700 crore per day due to a hartal. If one takes into account the losses in the unorganized sector, the amount will be manifold,

The recent harthals have given a massive blow to the State-owned KSRTC which is already burdened with the issue of the diesel price hike.The Corporation suffers from a monthly loss of Rs.4 crore due to the diesel price hike. And to top it, the harthal has come down heavily with a loss of Rs.3crore.

The Corporation needs a diesel capacity of 3 ¼ lakh litres per day. Owing to the current crisis in fuel prices, an additional monthly expenditure of approximately Rs. 4 crore will have to be met with by the organisation. If the establishment is to go forward without incurring any loss, a monthly income of Rs.98 crore will be required, according to Mr.T.P. Sen Kumar, MD of the Corporation. At the same time,even if the Transport buses are not operated, the State continues to pay the salary and pension of the Corporation staff.

The recurring harthals are like the destructive and undesirable weeds, eating into the resources of the state and they seem to have taken deep roots in the Kerala psyche. To totally eliminate them is going to prove a tedious task.

what r v going to gain??????????? lets think about......

JAI HIND...