Keonjhar: Closure of industrial plants due to various reasons in Keonjhar district has resulted in loss of livelihood of thousands of workers, a report said Tuesday.
According to data available from the district industries centre (DIC), the closure of these plants has left over 3,141 persons out of job in the district. However, the actual figure of jobless persons might be more as the number of closed down plants is much more than what has been stated by the DIC. Keonjhar being a mineral rich district is home to many small, medium and large scale industries.
The actual number of jobless workers could be much more than what is being officially stated.. Moreover, the number of employees in these defunct plants might be much more than what has been stated by the government agency. This apart, the functioning of these plants also provided indirect livelihood opportunities to many people in the district.
This has affected the jobless workers as they live a life of misery and hunger in the absence of a viable source of livelihood.
The workers after losing their jobs are seen doing odd jobs to earn their living. Among the units, stone crushing units and sponge iron plants are the sectors which had employed a maximum number of workers in their plants prior to their closure.
Sources from DIC said that 1463 workers of Kalinga Iron Works, 615 from Odisha Sponge Iron Ltd, 129 from Deepak Steel and Power Ltd, 100 from Sri Ganesh Sponge Iron Ltd, 127 from Seshagoa Enterprises Ltd, 212 from East India Minerals, 140 from Aditya Sponge and Power Pvt Ltd, 100 from SriJagannath Metalics Ltd, 100 from Kusum Powermet Pvt Ltd have lost their jobs following the closure of these plants.
Similarly, 36 from Banspani Iron Ltd, 65 from OMDC Sponge Iron plant and 54 from Deepak Steel Power Ltd have also lost their jobs for the same reason. Residents have urged the state government to intervene and take initiatives in reopening of these defunct plants which will provide employment opportunities to score of people.
PNN