RINL can provide more jobs to displaced when it expands: Government

NEW DELHI: State-run Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) could consider providing more jobs to displaced families in Viskhapatnam whenever the company plans expansion, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

About 20,000 families were displaced when their land was acquired for Visakapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) by the Andhra Pradesh government. Under a tripartite agreement, VSP was to provide employment to one member of each displaced family. RINL is the corporate entity of VSP.

"RINL-VSP has provided employment to 7,473 displaced persons as against 5,000 agreed to under the tripartite agreement. ... Now second and third generation members are seeking jobs.

"We would try that in case of expansion we have to take more on roll, naturally they may take that kind of consideration," Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said during the Question Hour.

Maintaining that expansion and modernisation of RINL was taking place, the Minister said the government would ensure employment to job seekers registered on employment exchanges located at places where land was acquired for VSP.

"We would see to the details of job seekers registered on the exchange. I will ensure that they are given priority," Singh said.

Replying to another query, he said the land was acquired as per the previous law and the process is still continuing.

Most members in the Upper House asked the government to review the compensation and rehabilitation benefits given to the displaced families.