Odisha Girls Allege Harassment at Bengaluru-Based Company

Bolangir: The dream of landing a good job after completing skill development training turned into a nightmare for as many as eight girls from Bolangir district in Odisha who alleged that they are being harassed at a Bengaluru-based firm and treated like labourers.

The girls hailing from Sadar and Deogaon block of Bolangir alleged harassment in the hands of their employers in Bengaluru and appealed for help.

The girls have released a video narrating their ordeal. They alleged that despite undergoing skill training under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), they are being engaged in low-end labourer work by the Bengaluru-based firm.

They further alleged that they are forced to work for 12 to 14 hours instead of eight hours and are being denied medical treatment. The employers are even not paying them on time and frequently deducting their salaries, they added.

The girls said though they tried to contact the officials of the skill development centre who had sent them to the firm, the concerned officials did not receive their calls. The girls through the video message appealed to the authorities to rescue them immediately.

When contacted, Bolangir Skill Development Centre coordinator Santosh Kumar Padhi said, “I was unaware of the incident and learnt about it from the video now. I think the girls are disturbed duo to some miscommunication. I will talk to our placement team and inquire about it,”

“We bring youths from rural areas and impart skill development training. After the completion of the training period, our placement team in Bengaluru engage them in various companies. Earlier, we had given placements to many youths in different firms in Bengaluru, but never came across such complaints,” he added.