Joda: With slump gripping the mining sector, locals seeking jobs halted mineral loading work at Bansapani rail siding in Keonjhar district late Wednesday night.
They also launched an agitation demanding jobs at the siding. This has come about four days after a meeting was held with Champua sub-collector Parul Patwari at Joda police station over the issue.
The sub-collector had decided at the meeting that 10 contractors engaged at the siding will be called for a meeting and be asked to engage 20 local people each under them.
The locals were told to apply for jobs with the contractors by March 31, 2018.
The sub-collector had assured the local people that after their engagement at the siding, women will be rehabilitated through self-help groups.
However, expressing their unhappiness over the decisions, some locals observed that the jobs that contractors will give them are temporary in nature while the companies should directly recruitment them for engagement at the siding.
Locals forcibly halted rake loading at the siding. Police rushed to the spot and tried to convince the people and assured them that the issues will be sorted out by January 3.
Following the assurance, the protestors relented after 15 hours of protests. PNN
