Jadugoda: The Singhbhum Uranium Mazdoor Union (SUMU) Union has given a one week ultimatum to the management and contractor working at Uranium Corporation of India Limited’s (UCIL) Banduhurang Open Cast Mine, seeking jobs for local unemployed youths and families displaced by the project. Union president Babulal Soren said an indefinite blockade of the mine gate would be launched if the employment demand was not addressed within the deadline.
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Soren said the union had held talks with the project manager of contractor RSA Company over recruitment at the mine. A list containing the names of around 150 people has also been submitted to the company. The union has sought priority for unemployed local youths and members of displaced families while filling jobs at the project. Soren said local land and resources were being used for mining and affected families should therefore get preference in employment.
Union Raises Issue of Outside Workers
The union claimed that many youths in the surrounding areas remained unemployed even as people from outside the region were being engaged for work at the project. It has demanded that the recruitment process for people included in the submitted list begin within a week. The claim regarding employment of outside workers could not be independently verified from the information available, and no response from UCIL or RSA Company was mentioned.
Indefinite Gate Blockade Planned
Soren said the union would join displaced families and unemployed youths in launching an indefinite gate blockade at the Banduhurang mine if no action was taken within the stipulated period. He said the protest would continue until the employment issue was addressed and held the concerned management responsible for any situation arising from the proposed agitation.
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