TV
Thousands of migrant workers from Odisha go out of the State in search of livelihood, many returning either with injuries or dead. Recent figures disclosed in the Odisha Assembly revealed that over the past decade, 409 migrants have died, with 233 of those deaths occurring in the past three years.
This distressing trend has stirred political controversy in the State. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the previous government of failing to ensure the safety and welfare of the migrant workers, while the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) asserts that there is a lack of strategies from the present government to tackle these problems.
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In the midst of this political confrontation, crucial questions arise about the measures being implemented to alleviate these workers’ plight. The deaths leave behind the bereaved families’ children who lose their parents. The inadequate safety standards and insufficient employment opportunities in their home state contribute to this tragedy.
Recent government statistics reveal that 233 migrant labourers from Odisha have died in other parts of the country over the last three years. Alarmingly, the mortal remains of 34 individuals are yet to be repatriated to their home state. This was disclosed by Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia during a session in the Assembly.
The report spanning 10 years indicates that Ganjam district had the highest fatalities with 59 deaths. The districts of Kalahandi and Balangir followed, reporting 39 and 35 deaths, respectively. Moreover, this year has seen more than 60,683 workers migrate for work in other states, facilitated by government-licensed contractors.
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“This is not the actual figure of deaths; rather many more persons have died than what is being claimed by the Government,” Congress MLA Pabitra Saunta said to mediapersons.
“The responsibility of a good government is to make people self-reliant at home. Naveen Patnaik never thought of this during his 24-year rule in Odisha,” BJP MLA Saroj Kumar Padhi stated in his reaction.
Reported By: Silu Biswal, Manoranjan Joshi, Jagdish Das, Soumya Ranjan Sahoo
