Employment to MSEZ Job Seekers Assured, 25-day Strike Ends
 
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Mar 25: Job seekers among the displaced families under the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) ended their indefinite strike, which had entered its 25th day, here on Friday March 25, after they were assured of jobs and appointment letters in three weeks' time at a meeting held on Friday.
 
MSEZ, MRPL, OMPL, and ISPR officers held a lengthy discussion under the guidance of district in-charge minister Krishna J Palemar. Deputy commissioner, student representatives, police commissioner, and MPs also took part in the meeting, under a tight security at the circuit house. The job seekers were assured of either jobs, or, in case of shortage of vacancies, appointment letters with monthly salary.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Krishna J Palemar said that 2317 acres of land was earmarked for MSEZ, MRPL, OMPL and ISRPL projects. The displaced families were also assured of one job to a member of each of the families. After the land acquisition, 1661 job seekers should have been given jobs in three phases. Among them 598 were given money instead of jobs. Among the remaining 1063 job seekers, 93 have got jobs.
 
MRPL acquired 268 acres land for which 183 jobs should have been given, of which 86 jobs have already been given. OMPL acquired 442 acres land promising 302 jobs, and gave 3 jobs. ISPRL acquired 85 acres land in lieu of 58 jobs, Palemar detailed.
 
MSEZ acquired 268 acres land and promised 520 jobs, but only 4 have been employeed. The remaining will be placed in various jobs according to their qualification. Others will be given appointment letters. Since MSEZ is yet to start its function, a trust will be started and arrangements will be made to pay the monthly salary. The company officials have agreed to pay a monthly salary of Rs 6,500 - Rs 8,000, but they have been requested to increase the sum to Rs 10,000, said Palemar.
 
R N Shetty, who led the protest, said that failure to give the promised jobs within three weeks may lead to severe protest in the future.
 

Journalists kept away
 
Though the meeting began at 11 am at the circuit house, the district in-charge minister and MP requested the media persons to stay away from the meeting hall. Palemar said he would address the media later. The meeting which was supposed to be held transparently went on behind closed doors. Tight police security was deployed around the circuit house premises.