Joda: A movement is gathering steam over the issue of jobs for locals in the mining sector in Joda area of Keonjhar district. Over 5,000 people from scores of villages in five panchayats got together and then took out a massive rally at Jajanga Sunday.
“We had been eking out our living from working in mines for some years, but after closure of the mines we lost our jobs. Now mines have reopened and resumed work, but we are not given work,” lamented the agitating people.
They alleged they had taken up the issue with the administration and the mining companies several times in the past, but it was not sorted out.
Jajanga sarpanch Rajani Nayak, samiti member Pradip Kumar Behera, Jurudi sarpanch Sujata Hembram, Jalhari sarpanch Mita Munda, Palasa sarpanch Nirupama Nayak, zilla parishad member Basudev Nayak and members of tribal outfit Marangburu Development Committee said the companies had assured them of giving them jobs in 2014. After mining work was resumed, the firms reneged on their promise, they lamented.
Jagabandh Nayak of Jajanga said, “The mine owners took our land, felled trees and even took water from rivers and creeks, but gave us pollution in return. No job was provided to us in their mines.”
Many people’s representatives and others warned that if the mining firms fail to meet the locals’ demands, they will intensify the agitation.
PNN