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| The Vedanta power plant at Jharsuguda. Telegraph picture |
Bhubaneswar, May 3: A controversy has erupted following an advertisement that appeared on a website inviting applications for the posts of engineers for Vedanta’s power plant at Jharsuguda. The advertisement had made it clear that candidates from Odisha and Odias would not be eligible for the posts.
The company immediately disowned the advertisement following which it was withdrawn from internet by the Global HR Consultancy, which had posted it on different job portals. The company has also threatened legal action against the advertising agency.
What prompted Vedanta to react immediately was the fact that the agency had invited applications only from non-Odias and from candidates residing outside Odisha. This triggered a hue and cry with inquiries flooding the company.
The advertisement was posted on various job portals on internet by the Global HR Consultancy (Job Code: GHRC-BE-JLLM) for the recruitment of 20 engineers to be posted at Vedanta’s power plant in Jharsuguda.
Those, who have the qualifications such as BE, Btech (mechanical), Btech (electrical), BTech (electronics and electrical), BTech (electronics and communication) can apply for the post. Vedanta sources said the advertisement was an attempt by vested interests to tarnish their image.
Local MLA from Jharsuguda Naba Kishore Das said: “No company, including Vedanta, is adhering to the government’s policy on recruitment. Very few Odias have found jobs in these companies.”
Chief secretary Bijay Patnaik said: “The state government will look into the issue.”
On the other hand, vice-president of Vedanta Sanjay Patnaik said: “The advertisement is not ours. We directly employ people through campus recruitment. We have a standard set of rules to recruit at least 70 to 80 per cent people from the local areas.”
The company further said Vedanta had not awarded any contract to the said consultancy for the engineers’ recruitment. “This is completely an unauthorised release of advertisement in the name of Vedanta.”
Worried over the issue and fearing loss of business, the consultancy has withdrawn the advertisement. Raghavendran, one employee of Global HR Consultancy, said: “Someone might have played a trick to defame the company. We have withdrawn the postings.”
In another development, the state government said that all the companies had to abide by the government’s recruitment policy of hiring people. As per the policy, the industrial houses have to give 90 per cent of their unskilled jobs to the local youths, 60 per cent to the semi-skilled people and 30 per cent at the managerial postings.
Industries minister Raghunath Mohanty said: “We have already directed the companies to follow the guidelines. We will soon review this. Specific directions have also been issued to collectors in this regards.”
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