Sramik Sangh demands Vedanta expansion plan

The Pioneer, Nov 23, 2010
PNS | BHAWANIPATNA

Criticising the Central Government’s decision of stalling the expansion plan of Lanjigarh-based Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), members of the Nirman Sramik Sangh (NSS), Bishwanathpur sat on a dharna followed by a demonstration here on Saturday. The Sangh submitted a memorandum through the Collector addressed to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Supreme Court Chief Justice, Union Labour Ministry and the Revenue Divisional Commissioner. They have appealed not to halt the VAL’s expansion plan that generates adequate income sources in the region to thousands of workers. Slogans like ‘we can not allow the company to close’, ‘can you give alternative?’ and ‘save industry, save employment’ rented the air during the demonstration.

While the daily wage workers were terminated by the L & T group during the expansion four months before, suddenly, the Central Government slapped its order to stop the expansion work, fumed the agitators.

This has rendered around 4,000 workers jobless employed indirectly by the VAL. They had come for their bread and butter from every block of Kalahandi and other districts, they complained. “A lot of people used to migrate to other States for their livelihood earlier, but after setting up of an aluminium refinery at our region, we were getting jobs and other sources of income,” NSS member Jilu Majhi said.

For the last four-five months, our situation has worsened as the expansion project has been closed. We want immediate resumption of the VAL’s expansion plan, appealed Majhi.

Jilu had earlier protested against the industrialisation at his nativity, but afterwards changed his mind when he could realise about the development work being undertaken at Lanjigarh region. NSS president Gopal Das, Gata Majhi and Patra Majhi were also present at the dharna.