IMFA stalemate ends, company gates open after agitators withdraw strike

Bhubaneswar/ Rayagada: Ending an 18-day deadlock, the gates of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA) plant at Therubali in Rayagada were opened in presence of senior police officials on Friday.

The protestors, who were staging a demonstration in front of the plant since April 23, agreed to withdraw their agitation following a tripartite meeting with district administration and IMFA authorities held at Rayagada Collector’s office Thursday late night.

Rayagada SDPO, Rajkishore Das informed that the agitators have withdrawn their strike following talks with officials.
“As the strike has been withdrawn, we hope that work at the plant will normalise soon,” said Das.

Earlier, the agitators decided to call off their agitation after the company officials agreed to fulfill nearly 4-5 demands out of the nine they had placed, said Special Tribal Development Council member, Jitu Jakasika.

“We are happy as few of our demands including regular minimum wages, medical ambulance and enrolment of poor students in the English medium school have been fulfilled after the meeting between district administration and IMFA officials,” said Jakasika.

It is pertinent to mention that the workers and their families were living in a state of panic following the agitation in front of the IMFA plant gate.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and officials of Utkal Chamber of Commerce had appealed to the State government to end the strike as it adversely affected the development process and sent a negative message to investors from outside Odisha.