‘Naxals helping the DPs to organise meetings and protests'
After losing their ground in Jhumra hills, the Red rebels seem to be trying to trap the displaced youth into their fold by assisting them in their protest against Government establishments. The rebels are learnt to have started funding the displaced youth to intensify their stir against Bokaro Steel Plant (BSl) in support for their demands lately.
According to sources close to the displaced groups, the Maoists active in the regions recently provided `1.5 lakh to a displaced group and assured them more financial help.
“A Maoist from Giridih gave the funds to a displaced group during a meeting which was held on August 27, 2014. He assured to give more funds if needed,” said a source. “The funds were given for organising rallies and protests by the displaced group,” he added.
The police and the displaced groups, however, deny from the fact. The DIG, Bokaro Range, DB Sharma said that no such incident had come to his knowledge. “We would act as and when such information reaches us. There are several issues of the displaced groups,” he added.
“We have been raising our voice against the BSl on our own. Where does this bizarre news come fromIJ There is absolutely no backup from any person or organisation. This is very unfortunate if someone does this,” said A Shahdeo of Visthapit Yuva Kranti Dal.
Earlier, in August 2012, Dumri MlA (JMM) Jagarnath Mahato had stated that only Maoists can solve the problems of people displaced by the BSl.
Mahato had given the statement after assessing the problem of 18 villages evacuated by the BSl; at that time he was one of the five members of special legislative committee for assessing the problem of displaced persons of the BSl.
Interestingly, it is not only the Maoists but a few of the contractors working at BSl, Bokaro Power Supply Company Private limited (BPSCl) and Hindustan Steelworks Construction limited (HSCl) are also giving financial support to the displaced.
They pay the displaced for launching and for stopping the agitations both only for their monetary gains, thus they (contractors) used to encash work/tenders from the management, sources said.
There are more than 20 affected villages, including Mahuar, Shibutand, Kundauri, Bansjhar, Chaitatand, Jharndutand situated around the Bokaro Steel Plant and 14 different organisations of the displaced people— Jharkhand Nav-Nirman Sena, Visthapit Ashpond Prabhawit Morcha, Visthapit Yuva Kranti Dal, loktantrik Berojgar Morcha, Jharkhand Berojgar Vikash Manch, Visthapit Yuva lions Force, Kisan Visthapit Raiyat Morcha, Visthapit Ekta Sangh, Bokaro old Students Association, Sthaniya Visthapit Jagran Manch, Jharkhand Visthapit Sangh, Visthapit Sangharsh Morcha, Visthapit Sanjyukta Morcha and Visthapit Janadhikar Morcha have launched stir in support of their demands.
Most of the displaced groups are demanding from BSl jobs, while the BSl management has declared that it has already provided jobs to about 16,000 displaced people earlier.
The displaced people, on the other hand, allege that the steel company at the time of acquiring their lands to set up plant had promised to provide jobs to 24,000 identified displaced people.
“In the name of rehabilitation the management had given 5 decimal of land to each of us but we are yet to get the ownership right of the land,” said Sahadeo Sao, a leader of the displaced organisation. “Due to lack of ownership right we cannot sell it or get bank loan to construct a house on that land,” he said.
“Our relocated villages are far from developed. There are no basic amenities like road, drinking water, health facilities, or electricity supply,” said A Mahato, a displaced youth.