Indian workers have begun a strike against high inflation and to demand better working conditions and an end to selling off state firms.

印度工人举行大罢工，抗议高通货膨胀率，要求更好的工作环境，停止出售国有企业。

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Unions want universal social security cover for workers in India's vast unorganised labour sector
The strike has the support of most of India's major trade unions and thousands of smaller unions from across the political spectrum².

Banks, transport, post offices and ports are thought most likely to be affected³ by the industrial action.

But services on India's rail network are not expected to be disrupted.

States such as West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala, where the communist parties have greater influence, had been expected to be most affected by the strike.

But early reports from Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal, said the normal life was largely unaffected by the strike.

Public transport, including the city's metro⁴ railway network, was running normally and flight operations from the domestic and international airports were on schedule, the Press Trust Of India news agency said.

"Everything has been normal so far. Things are going on well. Tight security arrangements are in place with 400 police pickets⁵ set up in various parts of the city," police commissioner⁶ RK Pachnanda said.

TV channels reported that the strike was having little impact in Delhi and Mumbai.

Although India's inflation rate dropped from 9.1% in December, it remains⁷ stubbornly（顽固地） high at 7.5%.

Growth for the financial year ending in March is also expected to be around 7%, lower than the previous forecasts of about 9%.

The government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is trying to cut its budget deficit⁸ by selling stakes in state-run companies - something the unions object to.

Other demands include measures to curb⁹（抑制） inflation, universal social security cover for non-unionised workers and enforcement of labour laws.