Three years after demolition of betel vines in Gadakujang panchayat, Posco company disbursed subsistence allowance to the labourers of betel vines at Noliashai on Friday.
Sources said 1,100 betel vines were demolished and Rs15.93 crore disbursed to 993 people of Nuagaon and Gadakujang panchayats. After demolition of betel vines, hundreds of labourers were living in pathetic condition while many migrated to other States in search of jobs. Similarly, women betel vine labourers are working as domestic servant in different officials’ quarters in Paradip. Despite demonstrations and rallies, Posco delayed to identify the labourers which held up payment of subsistence allowance. Jagatsinghpur Collector Satya Kumar Mallick had directed Posco authorities to expedite the identification of labourers otherwise he threatened not to cooperate in expediting the company’s steel project work.
Subsequently, Posco with the cooperation of villagers of Noliashai identified 172 betel vine labourers and paid Rs 27,000 to each labourer towards one year’s subsistence allowance.
On Friday, 32 beneficiaries received their allowance and the rest would get their allowance on September 2. The labourers will get other two years’ allowance gradually.