Over one lakh workers
from the State have been sent through middlemen to work in other States in
2014, Odisha Legislative Assembly was informed here on Friday.
In response to a
query of Congress legislator Naba Kishore Das, Labour and State Employees Insurance
Corporation Minister Prafulla Mallick updated that as on March this year,
1,19,001 migrant workers were sent to other State through 3,044 labour agents
under Interstate Migrant Workmen Act 1979.
Researchers, however,
termed the figure as grossly under reported. They said over 3 lakh labourers
including minor children from western Odisha districts had gone to work in
brick kilns in States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
“During past two
years, 726 migrant workers were rescued from workplace outside the State. Under
Interstate Migrant Workmen Act 1979, as many as 159 criminal cases were filed
during past five years,” Mr. Mallick said.
The statistics
presented in the Assembly points out highest 32,487 migrant workers from
Bolangir had been engaged in other States by labour agents while 20,233 workers
had gone from Khurda district.
The government
information makes it clear that district administrations in western Odisha
districts had no clue as to how many poverty stricken people migrated to other
States in search of jobs. From last part of 2013 till March 2014, district
police and labour department officials had tracked hundreds of migrant workers
who were being sent to other States in Nuapada alone.
“We think more than 3
lakh workers from western Odisha districts migrate to other States, mostly
through unregistered labour agents. These workers are forced to work in
inhospitable condition and any form of protest by workers often leads to
torture by employers,” said Umi Daniel, head of Migration Information and
Resource Centre (MiRC), Aide et Action South Asia.
Mr. Daniel said,
“Odisha surely sends more than 20 lakh migrant workers every year. While a
large number of workers from Ganjam migrate to States like Maharashtra, Gujarat
and Goa, destinations of workers from western Odisha are mostly brick kilns of
southern States.”
He said the official
figure on rescue of distressed workers also did not give a clear picture of
hopeless situation the migrant workers were in. “Compared to 726 migrant
workers claimed to be rescued by Odisha government, Tamil Nadu, erstwhile
Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka had officially released more than 1400 workers
after identifying them as bonded labourers.”
State Labour Minister
said government was taking steps to provide a toll free numbers to register
grievances of migrant workers who work in distress condition.
The Hindu: June 14, 2014 00:00 IST |
Updated: June 14, 2014 05:39 IST
