12-Hr Bandh Affects Life In Undivided Koraput District

Koraput: Normal life was disrupted in the undivided Koraput region of Odisha due to a dawn to dusk  bandh call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) and Koraput District Youth Congress demanding government job recruitments on district basis, especially for teachers and Grade D employees.

This 12 hours bandh made life stand still in Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangari and Rayagada districts. The bandh that started at 6 am will continue till 6.00 pm on Friday. Koraput District Sarpanch Association, Merchants Association, Swavimani Jeypore Association, District Mill Owners Association and Senior Citizens’ Association have extended support to the bandh call.

Most public transport vehicles and trucks remained off the road. Shops, business establishments, and academic institutions remained closed in the four districts.

The bandh supporters are demanding local youths to be appointed in government jobs in the region. They pointed out that the state government has transferred 184 teachers to their respective districts as per undivided Korput District Spouse Act in the last two days. According to them, youths from other districts are getting employment in Koraput district but they move to other regions of the state after working here for two to three years.

The agitators want locals to be appointed as teachers in the region as they know the language and culture of the tribals which makes them better teachers for the local students.