Paradip: Villagers who lost their homestead and agriculture land to the Paradip refinery on Thursday hit the streets to press forth the demand for permanent jobs at the state-run project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dedicated the Rs 34,555-crore refinery project to the nation on February 7, 2016.

The project-affected families had resorted to agitation on three occasions in the past eight months seeking fulfilment of their demands. However, the Indian Oil authorities have not yet decided anything about giving employment to the land-losers.

The crux of the problem is that the Indian Oil requires skilled workforce for the refinery. But, the land-losers who have been persistently demanding jobs do not come under "skilled" category. Therefore, it has become a predicament on part of the oil company to shoulder the burden of unskilled manpower, said a company official.

"The displaced families are being treated like stepchildren. Some 54 families, who lost their homes to the project, have not been properly rehabilitated. They are yet to be permanently employed by the company. The job provided to these families is temporary and contractual in nature. Despite commitment made in the past, the company is yet to provide then secured jobs," said Subhash Mohapatra, convener of Jamihara Krushak Ekata Manch, an outfit espousing the cause of displaced families.

"The project-affected people are staging peaceful demonstration near the refinery complex. They are insistent on continuing their agitation till their demands are met. We have deployed adequate personnel at the agitation spot to avoid any untoward incident," said inspector of Abhayachandpur police station Bichitranand Sethy.

The Indian Oil, however, has decided to hold talks with the agitating people. "We are laying emphasis on generating employment avenues for the project-affected people, besides those living in the peripheral areas. While engaging people in the project, we are strictly adhering to the government's rehabilitation and relief policy. The Paradip oil refinery is a government-run unit. Its recruitment policy is also subject to the central government's rules," said Indian Oil's senior manager (administration and welfare) for the Paradip refinery Manjushree Singh.

Gambling cuffs

Police on Thursday arrested 10 persons in Berhampur on charges of perpetrating unlawful gambling activity from a transit house of a nationalised bank. Around Rs 4,05,642 in cash and five motorcycles were seized from their possession. Acting on a tip-off, a special squad of city police conducted raid on a transit of the bank at Anantnagar and nabbed the gamblers. The arrested persons are being remanded in judicial custody.