PDF youth call off indefinite hunger strike

PDF youth call off indefinite hunger strike

Mangaloretoday News Network

Mangalore, Mar 26: The PDF youth called off their indefinite hunger strike on March 25, Friday, after they were assured jobs and appointment letters within 3 weeks during a meeting convened to discuss the issue.

Officers associated with MSEZ, OMPL, MRPL, and ISPR under the guidance of DC Subodh Yadav, District-in-charge Minister Krishna J. Palemar, student representatives, police commissioner, and various MPs met at the circuit house on Friday under tight security. During the meeting, the job seekers were told that will be either appointed or given appointment letters with monthly salaries if there were no vacancies.

Krishna J. Palemar told reporters after the meeting that 2,317 acres of land was earmarked for ISRPL, OMPL, MSEZ, and MRPL projects and that one member of each displaced family was assured jobs. He said that 1661 job seekers should have been recruited in three phases after the land acquisition process. Of these, 598 were given monetary compensation, and only 93 of the remaining 1063 job seekers have received jobs.

MRPL acquired 268 acres of land and should have provided 183 jobs, but it has recruited only 86 people so far. OMPL acquired 442 acres of land and promised 302 jobs, but has provided only 3 jobs. ISPRL acquired 85 acres of land and should have provided 58 jobs, said Palemar. MSEZ had acquired 268 acres of land and promised 520 jobs, but has employed only 4 so far, he added.

Stating that the others will be recruited soon as per their qualification, the minister said that those who cannot be recruited will be given appointment letters. Since MSEZ has not yet started functioning, it will begin a trust and make arrangements to pay monthly salaries. Although the officials have agreed to pay monthly salaries of Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 8,000, they have been requested to pay at least Rs. 10,000, said the minister.

R. N. Shetty said that if they are not provided jobs within 3 weeks, they will launch an intense protest again.