Rahul spends time with hockey players

Rourkela, Mar 9: As part of his 'Discover India' campaign, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi interacted with the inmates of Hockey Sports Hostel at Panposh and with a group of tribals at Beldihi near Vedavyas.

During the interaction, hockey players Anupam Barla, Sushmita Barla, Sourabha Barla and coaches Bijay Lekra and Silvester Topo told Mr Gandhi that there was no dearth of players in the state, but the selection was not being done properly. The players were neglected here, but other states were taking the benefit by providing them with jobs as there was no job opportunity for the players in the state.

Earlier, SAIL used to give jobs to the players, but it had stopped recruting players now, they alleged.

Later, Mr Gandhi met a group of tribals, led by Biramitrapur Muncipality Chairman Kishore Kuzur.

At Angul, Mr Gandhi interacted with the activists of eleven trade unions, affliated to INTUC, and a local Congress leader inside the Nalco stadium for more than an hour.

The trade unions of NALCO, MCL and NTPC mainly demanded the regularisation of contractual labourers, revision of pay structure and steps to check pollution.

The MCL trade union alleged that the government had not yet implemented the rehabilitation policy.

Mr Gandhi assured them that he would look into their demands.

UNI