Champua Sub-Collector Gaurahari Behera has called a meeting in his office on July 10 to discuss about various demands made by tribal union 'Ho Seya Maskal Akhal'
Sources revealed that 35 years back ,in the year 1982 , the Tatas had established a sponge factory at Bilaipada village in Joda by acquiring the agricultural land of local Adivasi people. At that time, the tribal people had given their land with the hope that after the factory comes up ,they will be given employment in the factory so that they will maintain their livelihood but their hope belied, alleged union general secretary Krishna Gagrai.
Krishna further alleged that the people close to the trade union leaders and Government officers exercising their lobby managed to get jobs in the factory, while the land donors were ignored. Even contract job was not available for the local people, he said.
In this regard, the Adivasis have been registering their protest at different forum but in vain. They had held strike in front of Tata Sponge main gate in May. However, after the intervention of the district administration, the strike was postponed. A meeting was called by the Barbil Tehsildar.
There it was decided to that the affected people will produce their related documents in support of their claim. Dissatisfied, the Adivasis met the Sub Collector, Champua.