Sambalpur, Feb. 1: Students of various educational institutions of the district today staged a demonstration in front of the office of the District Rural Development Agency during the Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee meeting.

The students, who were agitating under the banner of the Yuba Chhatra Adhikar Sangharsha Samiti, demanded employment to local people and infrastructure development of various educational institutes of the district.

The agitators handed over memoranda to the revenue divisional commissioner (north), Sambalpur collector, local MP and legislators, who had come to the agency office to attend the meeting.

“We want the industries to recruit the deserving students of our locality. Though there are several industries across Sambalpur district, they are not recruiting our local students and youths. The students and the youth of our locality are being debarred from getting their right. The industries should come to the campus and recruit the deserving students candidates of the district,” said Samiti convenor Sanjit Mohanty.

Mohanty said the agitators had also demanded infrastructure development of various educational institutes of the district. “We want the government to develop infrastructure of the educational institutions from the peripheral development fund,” he said.

“The industries are earning a huge profit from here. But, they are never concerned about the development of our locality. Several educational institutions of our area are lying neglected. The industries should be asked to develop infrastructure of the colleges in our district,” said an agitator.

Vice-president of the Sambalpur University students’ union Prakash Dang said: “None of the industries located in the district have ever come to our campus to recruit the students. They should recruit the eligible students of our district through campus placement.”

Dang said the students had also staged demonstration in the University demanding campus placement on January 15.

“If the industries do not recruit the local students and youths through campus placement, the students of Sambalpur University will intensify agitation,” he said.

On January 10, students from across the district had boycotted classes over the twin demands for employment and infrastructure development of various educational institutions.

Revenue divisional commissioner (north) Alekh Chandra Padihary said: “The matter was discussed in the meeting. The industries have been asked to recruit through campus selection.”

A committee would be constituted and a list of the development works of several educational institutions would be prepared. “The development works of the educational institutions will be carried out according to the committee’s proposal,” said Padhiary.