'Provide district-based jobs to junior teachers': 12-hour Koraput bandh observed over 'Job Grabbing'

Odisha's Koraput district on Friday witnessed a significant outpouring of public support as local organisations observed a 12-hour bandh advocating for the rights of the youths of the district.

The protest echoed the sentiments of the local youths who alleged job grabbing by non-Koraput people. While hundreds of youths from tribal-dominated districts are in need of jobs, youths from other districts often take away their jobs, the protesters alleged.

Demanding district-based jobs, the organisations observed the bandh from 6 am in the morning that will continue till 6 pm in the evening. Offices, shops, schools and colleges remained shut for the day as a sign of solidarity for the bandh call.

Marching through the streets with banners and placards, demonstrators voiced their concerns over a range of issues majorly focusing on jobs taken away by non-Koraput people in the teaching sector. As per reports, out of 922 teaching positions for junior teachers, only 40 people from Koraput have been selected while the remaining aspirants are from other districts.

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“Out of 922 posts for junior teachers, only 40 aspirants have got jobs from Koraput district. The remaining posts are all occupied by aspirants from other districts. If people from other districts take away all the jobs in our district, where will our boys and girls go? Should educated students from Koraput go live in jungles or move to other states to work as migrant workers? The government is blatantly playing with the future of Koraput people,” alleged Rupak Turuk, member of Milita Kriyanustan Committee.

The situation is no different in tribal-dominated districts of Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada. Out of 860 junior teacher positions In Nabarangpur, only 134 candidates are from the district while the remaining is from other districts, claimed a local.

No comments could be obtained from the district administration or the state government in this regard.