Citizens Assembly in Assam's Sivasagar protests ONGC's alleged anti-local policies, warns of mass agitation

A citizens assembly was convened in Sivasagar on June 7 under the initiative of the All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU) to protest what it described as the anti-local policies of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

 

The public meeting was held at Yuva Dal in Sivasagar town and witnessed participation from citizens belonging to different sections of society across the district.

 

During the assembly, speakers expressed concern over several issues, including the alleged halt in local recruitment, the outsourcing of oilfield operations to private entities on the grounds of financial losses, and the shifting of offices from Sivasagar. Participants termed these decisions as detrimental to Assam's interests and called for immediate corrective measures.

 

The gathering placed a series of demands before ONGC, including 100 per cent employment opportunities for local youths, provision of safe drinking water, environmental protection measures, preservation of indigenous art and culture, development of sports infrastructure, retention of contract allocation controls in Nazira, improvement of infrastructure at the ONGC Hospital, and an end to alleged irregularities at Charaideo's Chukafa Hospital.

 

Several prominent personalities addressed the meeting and shared their views on the issue. Among them were Gargaon College Principal Dr. Sabyasachi Mahanta, Sivasagar Commerce College Principal Soumar Jyoti Mahanta, retired ONGC official Ponaram Mili, and senior journalist Manoj Borthakur.

 

Speakers urged ONGC to reconsider its policies and ensure that the interests of local communities are protected. They also emphasized the need for greater participation of indigenous people in the oil and gas sector operating in the region.

 

ATASU leaders warned that if the concerns raised by the people remain unaddressed, the organization would soon launch a large-scale democratic movement against ONGC's alleged anti-local policies. They asserted that the rights and interests of the people of Assam must be safeguarded and that sustained public pressure would be built to achieve their demands.