Members of the ST Commission visited the peripheral villages of the Vedanta ltd, Jharsuguda on Wednesday and interacted with villagers, including ST community people, during their two-day stay in Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts.
The members visited Katikela, Burkhamunda, Banjari, Kurebaga villages and interacted with the residents on their aspirations, expectation and issues specific to the ST community.
Despite a few voices of discontent, the villagers at large acknowledged the CSR work done by the company. However, they demanded better drinking water facility, health services and more employability of local youth.
The commission also met the senior representatives of the Vedanta ltd led by its CEO Abhijit Pati to review the situation on ground in presence of the district Collector and other senior officials of district administration.
The commission advised the company to expedite rehabilitation process of Katikela village and also to provide better facilities of drinking water and health services in addition to the existing programmes.
Representatives of 3,000 strong women cooperative named Subhalaxmi Cooperative made a representation to the members of the commission demanding facilitation by the commission for leveraging government schemes specifically meant for its ST women members at Jharsuguda.
Assuring the cooperative for extending support, CEO Pati said, “We welcome the suggestion of the commission and we assure all cooperation. We remain committed to the local development and we are constantly working for the betterment of the marginalised communities and the Subhalaxmi Cooperative is a testimonial of the same.”