Odisha women workers ‘stranded’ without pay, medicines in Andhra Pradesh

Three Odia women from Digapahandi of Ganjam district are reportedly stranded in Andhra Pradesh. It is alleged that they are ‘trapped’ by their employer. The incident came to light after the women narrated their ordeal in a purported online video and appealed to the state government for their rescue on Friday.

What happened to the Odisha women in Andhra Pradesh:

Sources said that the three women were being employed by Varma Marine, a shrimp processing facility near Mangalagiri in the neighbouring state. However, in their appeal, the women alleged that the company had not paid their dues for the last three months and was mistreating them.

The stranded women have been identified as Lakshmi Sethi, Subuddhi Nayak, and Shriya Nayak, all from Bhramarapur village in Digapahandi block.

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“The company is not paying our salaries for the last three months. We have problems at home and want to leave but they are not allowing us. They do not even provide us with medicines when we are sick,” the women alleged in the video clip that was subsequently shared on the web.

Police and rescue efforts updates so far:

Meanwhile, the families of the victims urged the Ganjam district administration to intervene immediately for their rescue. Additionally, the brother of one of the stranded women has written to Berhampur MP Pradeep Panigrahi seeking help.

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Till the last reports came in, the Ganjam district administration had yet to respond on the matter. Moreover, the authorities of Varma Marine could also not be contacted for their comments.