The land losers of Tata Sponge at Bileipada under Joda block staged a dharna in front of the main gate of the plant, pressing for a 7- point charter of demands on Wednesday.
Their main demands included employment, reinstating the employees who were illegally terminated, besides steps to tackle environment issues.
According to sources, adivasi people were living in the land before the Tata Sponge factory was set up in 1982. Their land was acquired by the company with the assurances that they will be given employment in the factory but later, they were betrayed. lack of education and simplicity are some of the reasons for such miserable condition of the adivasi people.
The agitating locals alleged that taking advantage of their simplicity, they were always cheated in the matter of job and outsiders with influence managed to get all jobs in the factory easily. Even two-three people each from a few families who exercise lobby were given employment for a single land patta whereas people giving large patches were ignored. They further alleged that locals were just appeased with petty contact jobs.
last time on November 23, 2016, thousands of adivasi land losers had called off their stir after assurance but that assurance was not fulfilled, alleged leaders of the Ho Seya Maskal, the organisation spearheading the strike. Krishna Gagrai and Sunaram Munda and other leaders warned that this time the strike will continue till the demands are fulfilled.