Jajpur: Tribals displaced for the establishment of Tata Steel plant at Kalinganagar in this district are living lives of deprivation, even after 11 years of the police firing on agitators that claimed the lives of 14 people.
Members of displaced families’ development council observed the 11th anniversary of the firing incident at Sansailo colony in the area.
The 14 tribals were killed in police firing while they were opposing a compound wall construction by Tata Steel January 2, 2006.
The sign of extreme unhappiness and distress was quite visible on their faces as tribal leaders called upon them to stand united against such highhandedness of the company authorities and the police.
Presiding over a meeting, council president Birendra Jamuda alleged that though the steel company rehabilitated the displaced tribals in the colony, it has overlooked their problems and has been neglecting them since then.
While primary education is in a shambles in the colony, the worst sufferers are elderly persons, he said. The company is paying monthly assistance of Rs 7,500 to persons below 60 years of age while there is no such facility for persons who are beyond that age.
Moreover, whenever they raise their voice they are threatened that they would lose their jobs, Jamuda alleged.
The tribals alleged while they are deprived of basic facilities, those displaced who are residing at Chandia, Gobarghati and and Baligotha villages are being given more importance.
Moreover, over 307 families rehabilitated in Gobarghati Colony since 2007 have been deprived of assistance under various government welfare schemes as they are yet to get land pattas.
They do not have a good road or a school in their colony and are always plagued by a host of problems like power and drinking water shortage.
Speaking on the occasion, Binod Hembram, a senior member of the council, said Tata Steel was established due to the sacrifice of people of 14 villages including Gadapur, Gobarghati, Bamiagotha, Champakoili, Ambagadia, Chandia, Baligoth and Kalamatia.
Over 1,234 families have been displaced for the purpose but the company authorities are neglecting them, tribal leaders alleged. The road to Sansailo colony is often fraught with risk as there are no power connections after Nesco snapped the power supply to the area, they said. PNN