Educated youth ‘not given jobs in mining firms’

Most of the educated youth in Sonshi are not being employed by the mining companies and have to eke out a living elsewhere. One of the companies has promised to use the locals’ trucks. SHWETA KAMAT talks to villagers and gets the details

Suraj Gawade, a youth in his late 20s, travels almost 50 kms every day to reach to Verna for work from Sonshi village. He works for an electronic firm. Holding graduation degree, Suraj would have preferred to work in one of the six mining firms that operate in his village. He would have loved to work in his village but that does not seem to be happening. 
“Why are they not giving employment to Sonshi villagers?  We don’t know. Really don’t know. There are enough educated youth here who are ready to strive but mining companies have blacklisted us. They have no answer to give for that. They got people from outside to work,” he said.
Sonshi village lies in Sattari and as far as assembly is concerned it is represented by Pratapsingh Rane. The Congress leader, who has been uncrowned king of his constituency, has done nothing much as far as employment is concerned and the villagers have that grudge against their MLA.
While this village traditionally was in farming activity, there are some families who tried to eke out living by finding jobs in the mining firms that sprung suddenly as the soil was iron ore rich. The mining in the village has commenced a six-eight months back, post the long ban period.
“Show me one person who has permanent employment in the mining firms. The youth from our village are either doing some odd jobs or have to travel to work. Even our trucks are lying idle,” said Pratap Gawade, who owns a truck.
Some of the villagers who purchased trucks were in good financial health till the mining stopped. When it restarted, the mining firms began giving step motherly treatment to them. They even claim that they were not able to benefit much from the State Government’s monthly relief scheme. 
“The people from Pissurlem village, who had lost their land for mining lease, were given first preference to transport the ore. We were left out. What is the use of having trucks which are left corroding while we face all the dust pollution,” questioned Sunanda Gawade, whose husband was jailed along with other protestors for nearly ten-odd days for blocking transportation of ore.
“Very few managed to get benefit of the monthly relief scheme and others could not due to documentation issues,” Gawade explains. 
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who finally intervened in the matter, after holding meeting with the mining firms had asked them to employ all the 108 trucks which are owned by the villagers. He has made it clear that there should not be any sort of complaints from the villagers about employment issue. 
The Vedanta Limited, that operates mining lease in the village, has said that it will comply with all the conditions laid down by the Government. “We are committed to the welfare of all stakeholders and will abide by all the directions of the government. We work towards creating better socio-economic environment for the communities in the area,” the official statement reads. 
On the political front, while their local MLA Pratapsingh Rane hardly visits the village, his son Vishwajeet has been managing his father’s campaign in this area. “Generating employment is one of the major issues of the villagers. We are there to help them. I will raise the issue with the Chief Minister as well as the mining firms,” he said.

  • | 23 Apr, 2017, 01:46AM

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