Keonjhar: A district-level job fair organised on the premises of the Odisha Mining Mechanical School here Saturday turned out to be a damp squib with most companies failing to show up. Scores of job aspirants, who had come from far off places, had to return home frustrated.
Nearly 60 stalls were set up for companies to recruit youths at the fair, but most of the stalls were found empty. Many mining and industrial firms in the district did not take part in the fair, which left the youths unhappy. People’s representatives also expressed their displeasure over the reported failure of the job fair.
Zilla Parishad chairperson Kamalini Patra was unhappy over the absence of mining and other industrial companies. Locals pointed out that MLAs and the MP were conspicuous by their absence, which indicates their callousness towards such job fairs while over 100 mining, industrial firms and transport agencies have engaged outsiders in most of their workforce.
On the other hand, unemployment in this mineral-rich district has been rising. The government organises job fairs to create opportunities for local youths, but mining companies are not keen on them.
Social activist Brajkishore Ray said companies from outside the state come and recruit youths, who are paid low salaries and in case they protest, they are harassed.
President of Nagarika Manch, Kiran Shankar Sahu, said, “Mining and industrial companies have job scope for locals, but they have engaged people from other states while the administration shows favouritism to these companies.”
PNN
