Sundargarh: Hundreds of locals today gheraoed the office of Sundargarh Collector demanding jobs for educated youths of the district.

They took out a rally from the Nari Kalyan Kendra here and marched towards the office. After staging a demonstration in front of the office, they handed over a memorandum to the concerned officers.

Sundargarh MLA Kusum Tete and Birmitrapur MLA Shankar Oram also joined the protest.

"Though various mines and factories are operating in the district, local youths are not being given employment in them. Rather, youths of other districts and sates are working in them. This apart, the youths of Sundargarh are being ignored in the employment opportunities created by the District Mineral Foundation," one of the agitators said.

Recently, process for recruitment of technical workers in the District Mineral Foundation was carried out. As allegations regarding engagement of youths of other areas through an agency came to fore, it evoked sharp reactions across the district.