GMR-Special Economic Zone oustees demand jobs

Kakinada: The displaced youth of GMR-KSEZ in U. Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals requested the chief minister N.Chandrababu Naidu to provide them job cards as their families had lost lands and other livelihood sources due to the GMR-Kakinada Special Economic Zone.

A group of unemployed youth and farmers formed associations namely GMR-KSEZ Unemployees Youth Association and SEZ Farmers Porata Committee in the town to spearhead the movement and take up the cause with the government. The youth said that their lands have been purchased by the KSEZ and they hoped to get employment opportunities in the upcoming SEZ. They said that the government has announced that Hard Ware Park, Commercial Port and other industries would be come up at KSEZ soon and demanded that the local unemployed youth should be given priority in the recruitment of the manpower for the companies to be established.

They requested the chief minister to give priority to the youth for providing jobs under the KSEZ by sanctioning job cards to them. They said that their families were suffering for financial problems and they were unable to bear the crisis. They said that the government should take steps for establishing industries immediately under KSEZarea and give jobs.

The farmer's association leaders alleged that the officials had bagged their lands illegally for SEZ by paying meager compensation to set up industries. The farmers led by the association president P. Krishna Reddy submitted a memorandum to Chandrababu Naidu requesting the government to enhance the amount of compensation to their lands under the New Land Acquisition Act. Krishna Reddy said that they have been fighting for their just demand for past eight years and they were also cultivating the lands and digging aqua tanks and others. He reminded Chandrababu Naidu that he had promised to the farmers that the KSEZ would be abolished, unless they establish industries in the area.

He also said that the children of the families of the farmers who lost their lands in KSEZ should be provided employment opportunities. He also  demanded that the government to  lift criminal cases booked during agitations against KSEZ. He demanded the government to appoint an official committee to solve their problems.