PONDA: Usgao-Ganjem locals, at the gram sabha, expressed displeasure over the fact that most jobs, especially white-collar work, are being given to outsiders, while the villagers are either unemployed or given menial jobs, such as manual labour or operators.
While Sarpanch Tulishidas Prabu assured to look into the matter, the gram sabha passed a resolution to give preference to unemployed local youth for industrial jobs and the panchayat should ensure that the locals get permanent jobs.
The locals also raised the issue of rampant pollution by a tire manufacturing company in Usgao. They claimed that 65 percent of jobs in that company had been given to outsiders, while only 35 percent had been given to locals.
The villagers also alleged that in 2012, around 577 illegal houses were given house numbers, but not registered till date. They demanded that the panchayat investigate the same, and the sarpanch assured to comply.
The gram sabha also complained that sewerage is being discharged in the open by houses at Sidheshwar Nagar-Palwada and the same was flowing across the main road, inconveniencing the locals. The meeting was held under police protection.
