Unemployed youths of periphery villages of the Jindal Steel & Power ltd here, along with the Apprentices and Trainees, have held an ‘Economic Blockade’ demanding permanent jobs in the plant.
Except a part of the main gate, all the plant gates have been closed due to the blockade. Hundreds of transport trucks are stranded on the roads.
At a meeting at the plant’s material gate presided over by Jayasen Meher, leaders Sashmita Behera, Purna Ch Rout, loknath Pradhan, Adikanda Sahu, Bishnu Sahu, Manasi Swain, Subash Pradhan and Tirthabasi Bhoi demanded permanent employment for the affected people.
However, in a Press release, the JSPl termed the agitation as an “uncalled for obstruction by a handful of protesters resulting in public inconveniences”.
The company rued, “The project construction gets delayed by such mindless blockade.” Regarding employment, the company said it has followed the R&R Policy of the State Government in letter and spirit. “As per the policy, we have provided employment to all the project-displaced families (PDFs),” the release added.
Manas Pal, a leader of the protesters, said the JSPl should give permanent employment instead of through its sister and contract organisations.