Bolangir: Farmers in the district are a worried lot due to the drought-like situation following scanty rainfall and have started working as migrant labourers to eke out a living.
Gajindra, a Lakhapali resident, said, "If I move outside the State and work as a migrant labourer, I will earn some money. Otherwise, me and my family will die of hunger as the crops have been completely damaged because of the dry spell."
Nurat gave a blank stare and stated, "Unless we work as migrant labourers, how will we sustain ourselves?"
Another villager Usha stated, "Had there been a good harvest, we would have some money to pay to moneylender. Now we are completely penniless."
While some villagers have already left homes to work as a migrant workers, others are planning to do so and have taken advances from middlemen.
Meanwhile, the District Labour Officer stated he will ensure government welfare programmes reach villagers and create awareness to refrain them from moving outside the State.
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