BSL cancels interview after protests by displaced youths

Bokaro: Outstation candidates, who came to attend the final interview at the Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) for the post of attendant-cum-technician trainees, were not allowed to enter the premises by local displaced youths who were protesting here on Thursday.
Agitators scuffled with the security guards of BSL when they tried to stop them at SAIL Refractories Unit headquarters, where the interview was supposed to be held. Agitators under the banner of the Displaced Apprentices Association (VAS) staged demonstrations against BSL management demanding jobs and compensation against the land given to the company by their ancestors.
Chief of communications, BSL, Manikant Dhan said, “Seeing the agitation of the displaced people, the interview was later cancelled by the management.” Most of the candidates had come from Rajasthan and other states after they got selected in written examination.
Till the time of writing the report, hundreds of displaced people sat at the main gate of SRU as well as in front of BSL’s Ispat Bhawan and HRD Center. BSL management has sought the help of the district administration to normalise the situation.
Amjad Hussain of VAS said, “We have completed plant training (apprentice). For the last few years, we are demanding jobs from BSL management who had given us training after assuring us jobs. But despite repeated requests, we are not being provided jobs. This forced us to stage demonstration. BSL management should provide jobs first to displaced as we have given everything for establishment of the steel plant.”
DSP City Kuldeep Kumar tried to pacify the agitators, but it did not work. The displaced stated that their agitation would continue till the BSL management gave them written assurances regarding the employment.
Anticipating protest, BSL management had shifted the examination centre overnight to SRU situated about 3 km away from HRD centre. But the displaced reached SRU in the morning.
More than 100 people were selected in the written examination and were called for interview from October 21 to 23 for 49 vacancies.