Even as the alleged anti-worker attitude of the Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys (IMFA) at its Therubali (Rayagada) plant triggering prolonged agitation is still fresh in mind, resentment among workers is now brewing at the two chromite mines of the IMFA at Kaliapani in Jajpur district.
Aggrieved over the injuries sustained by two workers at the Mahagiri underground chromites mines, their colleagues have been sitting on a dharna in front of the mines since last four days.
The two injured workers Aditya Mahanta and Motilal Mahanta are currently undergoing treatment. The agitating workers are demanding that the IMFA authorities make provision for proper treatment of the injured.
Sukinda Region Mines Workers’ Association secretary Narayan Chandra Dhir, joint secretary Bharat Chandra Mahanta, vice-president Prabhat Ranjan Pradhan and leaders like Subrat Maharanta and Subrata Jena are among others participating in the agitation, in which as many as one thousand five hundred workers have joined.
Operations at the IMFA Sukinda Chromite mines have been seriously hit due to the strike. The workers have been demanding adequate safety measures for them.
It may be mentioned that the two workers were injured in a an accident in the underground mines operation on October 31.
