TV
Once hailed as the industrial crown of North Odisha, Balasore now stands as a stark symbol of missed potential and economic stagnation. At a time, thriving with medium and small-scale industries, this district, which saw its industrial boom in the 1990s, today wears the tag of an ‘industry-deprived zone’, with 70% of its manufacturing units shut down, leaving thousands of workers jobless and uncertain about their future.
Back in the mid-90s, under the leadership of then-Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, Balasore witnessed the establishment of several key industries.
Eminent establishments like Birla Tyres, Emami Paper Mills, and Ispat Alloys set up their bases here within the Ganeshwarpur Industrial Estate on the city’s outskirts, becoming a hub for over 100 manufacturing units through IDCO initiatives.
However, decades later, most of these factories have either shut down completely or are barely functional. But what went wrong with such a booming economic setup?
“Industries shut down due to several factors, including a lack of incentives and government support. We lost our livelihood the day our unit shut down. No alternative job came our way,” said Kartik Das, a former employee of a now-defunct tube factory.
40,000 Jobs Lost, Migration Surges
The impact has been harsh. With the collapse of small and medium enterprises, over 40,000 workers and staff have lost jobs in recent years. Many families are facing food insecurity, while a significant number of unemployed workers have migrated to other states as contract labourers.
Saroj Kumar Pati, another worker from a latex manufacturing unit, echoed the same: “For years we gave our sweat and time, but now we are forced to migrate for menial jobs in other states. Some have moved to places like Kolkata and Delhi, while some others who worked with me have gone untraceable,” he added.
Administration’s Response
Responding to the situation, District Industries Officer Surjyakant Behera admitted that while several units have closed, the district still hosts 12 large industries, 10 small industries, and nearly 3,000 micro and cottage enterprises, many of which are currently operational.
“We acknowledge that many units have shut down. We are assessing whether government-level issues caused the closures. If so, we will try to resolve them,” Behera stated.
Despite these assurances, on-ground realities tell a grim tale. Ganeshwarpur Industrial Estate, once teeming with machines and workers, now resembles an abandoned zone with rusting sheds and locked gates.
