Chhattisgarh Assembly Winter Session 2024: BALCO Violated State Industrial Policy In Context Of Recruitment, Says Former CM Bhupesh Baghel

Raipur: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), part of Vedanta Limited and one of India's largest aluminum manufacturers, has been accused of significantly violating Chhattisgarh's industrial policy in the context of recruitment.

Former Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel directly accused BALCO's management of breaching these norms and called for an impartial investigation from Minister for Commerce and Industries Lakhanlal Devangan during the Winter Session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly.

This demand arose while Devangan was responding to queries from Congress MLA Phool Singh Rathiya, who asked about job opportunities for indigenous people at BALCO, the employment numbers, and the company's skill training initiatives for local youth.

Devangan revealed that BALCO employs 505 indigenous people in Korba and out of a total workforce of 1,986, with 607 being outsiders. He noted that BALCO does provide skill development training but there is no unemployment allowance scheme for job seekers including the local youth.

This response frustrated Leader of Opposition CD Mahant and former CM Baghel, who insisted that Chhattisgarh's industrial policy mandates local preference in hiring: 100% for unskilled labor, 70% for skilled, and 40% for management positions. Baghel contended that these standards were not being met.

LOP Mahant further urged the minister to create provisions addressing the aspirations of local youth.