Odisha: Parties attack government on migrant labourer issue

BHUBANESWAR: Leaders of political parties on Friday expressed concern over the sad state of Odia migrant labourers stranded at different parts of the country. They criticised the government's alleged apathetic attitude to deal with this sensitive issue.
Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra alleged that the government has been rather apathetic to the plight of the migrant labourers. "Far from being reassuring or going that extra mile for the last man standing, our government and institutions have been rather apathetic to the plight of the migrant labourers. It seems they are an unwanted lot both at their workplaces and native villages," he added.
BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra said Odia migrant workers are facing a harrowing time in other states. "The companies do not pay salary and they do not have ration. I got phone calls from migrant workers stranded in different states and found that they are in a state of despair. Keeping this situation in mind, the state government should provide financial help for their survival there," he added.
Ali Kishore Patnaik, state secretary of CPM, said sending state and receiving state should discuss the issue and facilitate journey of migrant people to their native places. "If we do not handle the situation well in advance, we may face more problem. We should not make the quarantine centres as jails for these people. They should feel at home," he added.
Ruling BJD refused to comment on the matter as it is a humanitarian issue managed by the state government.
Some migrant workers on Friday alleged that their company staff in Tirupur in Tamil Nadu attacked them when workers asked for pending salary. Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik posted the viral video on his Twitter account and said, "It is unfortunate that Odia workers were beaten up because they were demanding payment of pending wages in Tirupur, TN. I appeal to Tamil Nadu CM to conduct a fair probe and take strict action against the culprits. I request Odisha CM to ensure the wellbeing of our workers."
Several migrant workers and stranded Odia people in Surat, Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh and other places are waiting at the originating stations like Surat and Panvel in Maharashtra to return home. The sudden cancellation on Thursday left them on the street.
Three special trains carrying migrant workers from Surat reached Odisha on Friday at Jagannathpur station in Ganjam district. So far 20 special trains, carrying around 23,800 people, have reached Odisha in six days. As many as 16 trains came from Surat in Gujarat, three trains from Kerala and one from Bengaluru.
After the Supreme Court stayed Orissa high court order, other states will send migrant people to Odisha in Shramik Special trains.