Joda: Frustrated over a company’s failure in keeping its promises on job creation, people of Jalhari panchayat under this block in Keonjhar have decided to agitate against the firm and halt its mining activities, according to a report.
The villagers had several times in the past staged agitation against the plant of Sree Metaliks Limited at Khandabandh, demanding jobs for locals.
Jalhari Panchayat Development Society, a local outfit, had intimated the company management regarding the issues nearly a month ago.
The company had promised residents to hold a meeting at Bamebari police station in the presence of company officials and representatives of the local people May 25, but no meeting was held Friday.
Locals had gone to its mining site but no officials were present there, the villagers lamented.
They apprised Bamebari sub-inspector Sushil Kumar Mohant of the promised meeting. Mohant asked the villagers to wait there and said he had been trying to contact the company officials but there was no response from him for long hours, said Babla Sitari, president of Jalhari Panchayat development Society.
Left with no option, the members of the society returned to the village and decided to paralyse the operation of the company in the mine Saturday.
Locals like Bhutu Munda, Guren Nayak, Biju Munda, Deba Munda, Sahil Munda, Aklu Munda, Gupu Munda and Buturu Majhi said when a public hearing was held for mining operation here, the company representatives in the presence of administrative officials had promised jobs for unemployed local youths on a priority basis, but later reneged on their promises.
They alleged that mining firms in the area have engaged people from outside the state and have committed irregularities leaving the local youths jobless.
