Kaliapani: Juanga tribals of Nagada village in Sukinda valley of Jajpur district have demanded permanent employment in mines.
They submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Sukinda MLA, to a labour leader here Monday.
Over 50 couples led by Maheshwar Padhan, Dukhia Padhan, Katakia Padhan and Murali Padhan from Nagada, Guhiasal, Tumuni and Ashokjhar villages reached the labour union office here with a hope to meet MLA Preetiranjan Ghadai and speak to him about their problems Monday. However, they submitted a memorandum, addressed to Ghadai, to a labour leader Narayan Chandra Dhir as the legislator was not present in the office.
During a discussion with Dhir, the tribals claimed that the state government has started implementing several developmental projects but has not taken any steps to provide them permanent employment which is the real reason behind their misery. Lack of money has deprived their children of nutritious food, the tribals said.
The projects being implemented under the Orissa Livelihood Mission are on long term ones and are yet to be of any benefit to them. The food items which they had received are slowly running out of stocks for which they are in urgent need of jobs to support their families.
They alleged they have been put in a disadvantaged position as their villages are situated in Middle Nagada while their counterparts in Upper and Lower Nagada receive all the benefits provided by the district administration.
The villagers urged the authorities to drill a well in Middle Nagada and construct a road. PNN