Nalco appeals to people's body to call off stir

Nalco appeals to people's body to call off stir

by Statesman News Service, ANGUL,

15th February 2006

Nalco has made a fervent appeal to Nalco Kshatigrasta Praja Sangh to desist from its proposed agitation starting tomorrow against the two plants here as it had done whatever was necessary to rehabilitate families which had lost land.

Till date, Nalco has absorbed 1,094 of a total of 1,530 substantially affected persons (SAPs) into the company as part of its rehabilitation programme.

About two-third of its manpower consists of land oustees.

"The agitation that is aimed at stalling operations of smelter and power plants will result in immense losses to the state and nation, and it will take a minimum one year to make good the losses suffered from the closure of either of these plants," said the executive director of the smelter and power plant, Uma Ballav Patnaik, in a statement.

On their demand to absorb the remaining 436 SAPs into Nalco, Mr Patnaik clarified that it was not possible for the company to take in those persons who were not technically qualified.

He added that Nalco, in coordination with the state government, has offered four rehabilitation packages for the 436 SAPs.

SAPs holding ITI certificates, diploma and graduation degrees will be offered employment after undergoing a one-year Nalco-funded intensive skill upgradation training.

Matriculates will be sent for ITI training, the cost of which would be met by the company and would be provided jobs on completion of training.

Non-matriculates will be provided coaching so that they can clear their matriculation and will be absorbed into the company after completing the ITI course sponsored by Nalco.

The remaining SAPs will be given compensations, he said.
Mr Patnaik asked Prajasangh to call off its stir as the rehabilitation package announced by the company was magnanimous.