Jajpur/Kalinganagar: Locals Wednesday staged a demonstration outside Emami cement plant at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district demanding jobs for unemployed youths of the displaced families
The villagers of Manatira demanding implementation of the tripartite agreement on employment staged protests outside the main-gate of the cement plant. The district administration, plant authorities and representatives of the displaced families had earlier entered into an agreement on employment to jobless youths of the displaced families.
Holding placards and banners, hundreds of protestors gheraoed the plant Wednesday morning demanding employment to displaced families and local youths.
They also hit the street against environment pollution and ‘dalalraj’ (rule of touts) in jobs. They, however, relented after Kalinganagar ASP Rajkishore Dora, Kalinganagar IIC Rajendra Narayan Pattnaik, his Jakhpura and Tomka counterparts Lakshman Kumar Dandsena and Sanghamitra Nayak respectively assured that a tripartite meeting will be held in Kalinganagar ADM’s office to sort out the issues Thursday.
It was alleged that the district administration, except for signing an accord with the company, has never prevailed upon the plant authorities to give employment to local youths. This has been the cause of resentment among displaced families.
The district administration had deployed two platoons of police at the site to prevent any untoward situation during the agitation. This is the second strike by the residents against the Emami cement plant in Kalinganagar this year. Earlier, agitation by displaced families had hit production at the cement plant.
Sources said Emami has acquired 66.25 acres at Mantira and Manoharpur villages for establishment of its cement plant under the land acquisition Act. The land acquisition has rendered over 100 families homeless while kin of 80 families are eagerly waiting for employment in the cement plant. The cement plant has started production but is yet to give jobs to local youths.
PNN