Body of Migrant Worker Arrives In Odisha from Kuwait After 27 days

Ganjam: There is no end to the plight of labourers who are forced to migrate outside the country in search of work. A pall of gloom descended at Khojapalli village under Khallikote police limits in the district after the body of Harsh Samal who had gone to Kuwait for work, reached home 27 days after his death.

According to reports, Harsh died in Kuwait on October 11, but the exact reason behind his death is still not known. Harsh is survived by his elderly parents, wife and children.

Harsh’s family after getting the news of his death had approached the district administration and the External Affairs ministry to bring his body back. They had also submitted a letter for the same.

Later when Harsh's father approached BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda seeking help, Panda sought diplomatic intervention of Indian Ambassador in Kuwait into the matter.

“He was our sole breadwinner. How will we survive now? What will his children do?” asked a teary-eyed Ramesh Samal, Harsh's father.

“An amount of 10, 000 rupees from the Red Cross fund for the cremation rituals was given to the family of the deceased on behalf of the collector,” said Chittaranjan Mohanty, Tehsildar of Khallikote. He also assured that the administration would take steps to rehabilitate the widow of Harsh.

It is pertinent to mention that in the past one year, six persons from Khallikote area who migrated abroad in search of work have died.