TORTURED B’NGIR WORKER GOES MISSING AT AP KILN29 January 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

TORTURED B’NGIR WORKER GOES MISSING AT AP KILN

Wednesday, 29 January 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Even as the Government is making tall claims of providing job works at door steps to the poor people through various job schemes like MGNREGS, yet there is no end to distress migration from the poverty-struck district here and the migrant workers facing torture at the hands of their employers.

According to reports, Maniram Parabhue along with family members including his wife Mithila Parabhue and three children of Badtukula village under Tureikela police station had moved to Andhra Pradesh after Nabanna last year (September) to work in brick kilns. They reached Kapalapalli village through broker Arjun Behera of Kantabanji.

After working for a few days, Maniraam fell sick. So, he began to work less. This enraged his employer, who assaulted him and left him injured. When Maniram sought treatment, he was assaulted again.

Similar was the fate of many fellow workers.

However, one Jalandhar Parabhue managed to inform about their plight to the labour officials in Balangir. With the help of the local administration of AP, about five were rescued by the Balangir administration and the labour officials. But Maniraam was still to be rescued as he went missing.

“My husband Maniraam is missing till today. I suspect he has been killed there and appeal to the district administration to look into the matter,” said a sobbing Mithila.

Meanwhile, social workers have demanded immediate steps by the district administration to trace out missing Maniraam and appropriate rehabilitation to his family.

Interestingly, district Collector M Muthukumar in his Republic Day address had asserted that the district administration was very serious about checking distress migration from the district. The latest case has thrown a challenge to the district administration.

When contacted, SP Ravi Prakash said, “I’ll look into the incident.”

Picture,Pardhipali village,s ofriversuktel Gadshankar Dunguripali andweekly haat (market) bySudhir Mishra/Bolangir

Few pictures of river Suktel,Pardhiapali village,Gadshankar Dunguripali and weekly haat (market) by Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir
19thJanuaray2014
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SUKTEL: EVICTION NOTICES TO TWO VILLAGERS SOON Thursday, 23 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

SUKTEL: EVICTION NOTICES TO TWO VILLAGERS SOON

Thursday, 23 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

5

The Balangir district Collector M Muthukumar on Wednesday informed that nearly 80 per cent people of the two villages, Pardhiapali and Koindapali, affected by the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project have already been compensated and the rest 20 per cent would be given compensation very shortly.

After chairing the first project-level rehabilitation and resettlement committee meeting, the Collector said eviction notice would soon be issued to the residents of the two villages.  

“We also discussed the revocation of Section 144 at the project site and the demand of the affected people for compensation as per the new Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act 2013. A decision to this effect will be taken shortly,” the Collector informed. “Unless we are compensated as per the new Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act 2013, we will continue to oppose the project,” said a villager of Pardhiapali.

Meanwhile, the Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad continued its dharna at Pardhiaapali opposing the construction of dam while project work continued at the project site.

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Balangir MP wins Bharat Asmita awardTuesday, 21 January 2014 | Pioneer | in Bhubaneswar

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Tuesday, 21 January 2014 | Pioneer | in Bhubaneswar

Balangir MP wins Bharat Asmita award

Balangir: Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayn Singh Deo has won this year’s Bharat Asmita award 2014 for his “path-breaking” contributions to nation building. The award, instituted by the MIIT School of Government, Pune, is given to the best young  exponent parliamentary practices. “Your initiative of LAMP has inspired youths to adventures in national interest and your action has strengthened the foundation of Indian democracy and parliamentary practices. Your commitment and focus on livelihood, climate change is greatly appreciated,” says the appreciation letter to Sighn Deo. The award will be conferred at Pune on February 3.

BJD TO LOSE 4% VOTES IN LS POLLS, SAYS SURVEY Wednesday, 22 January 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

dear all
I found this news interesting and posting for perusal of all
SudhirMishra
=============================

BJD TO LOSE 4% VOTES IN LS POLLS, SAYS SURVEY

Wednesday, 22 January 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar 

The BJD is set to capture power in the State for a straight fourth time, according to a survey conducted by the CSDS for the Lokniti-IBN. 

Of the State’s 21 Lok Sabha seats, the BJD, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is expected to maintain its lead by winning 10-16 seats in this year’s General Elections against 14 it got 14 in the 2009 polls.

The State’s main Opposition Congress is likely to win 3-9 seats and the BJP is projected to win 0-4 seats, according to the survey. The Congress had last time got 6 Lok Sabha seats while the CPI had won one and the BJP failed in all the seats.

The survey says that even though the BJD is expected to get just 33 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha elections. This is 4 per cent less than the party’s 2009 Lok Sabha polls vote share of 37 per cent.

The BJP’s votes are expected to go up to 25 per cent in the LS elections against its share of 17 per cent in 2009.

However, the BJD is likely to sweep the Assembly elections with 49 per cent votes. The Congress is expected to get 28 per cent votes, the BJP 13 per cent and others 1 per cent while 9 per cent of the electorate is still undecided.

Patnaik is more popular than his Government and his popularity rating is 70 per cent and 26 per cent people are not happy with him while the other voters have no opinion, the survey showed.

A total of 35 per cent voters say that the BJD Government should not get another chance while 14 per cent have no opinion.

Another interesting thing, according to the survey, is that dissatisfaction with the UPA Government at the Centre is high with 33 per cent voters being of the opinion that they are satisfied with the UPA Government.

The survey shows that the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is backed by 33 per cent voters while just 12 per cent back Naveen Patnaik for the PM’s post. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has the backing of 19 per cent and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has just 1 per cent support for the post of PM.

Nearly half of the respondents have heard of the

name of the AAP and one-third of the voters want this party to contest from their Lok Sabha seats. About 12 per cent show interest in voting for the AAP.

SUKTEL WORK CONTINUES AMID VILLAGERS’ PROTEST Wednesday, 22 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

SUKTEL WORK CONTINUES AMID VILLAGERS’ PROTEST

Wednesday, 22 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been clamped in the construction site of the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project with the construction work continuing.

Meanwhile, villagers of Pardhiapali and Koindapali continued their dharna at Pardhiapali demanding compensation to them in accordance with the land acquisition policy of 2013 as they have lost their lands for the project.

Members of the Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad also staged a dharna at Pardhiapali opposing the construction of the proposed dam. Meanwhile, the more than 160 project opponents who were arrested a couple of days ago were released on PR bond on Tuesday.

While the supporters of the project are demanding payment of compensation as per the land acquisition law of 2013, the anti-project villagers have been opposing it from the beginning saying that they are in favour of zero displacement and against big dams.

B’NGIR MIGRANT LABOUR DIES IN AP BRICK KILN Tuesday, 21 January 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

B’NGIR MIGRANT LABOUR DIES IN AP BRICK KILN

Tuesday, 21 January 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Even as the State Government has been making tall claims of providing jobs at the doorsteps under the MGNREGA and other schemes, yet poor people of Balangir district are continuing to migrate to other States in search of livelihoods only to face torture and exploitation and even lose their lives.

When the tragic story of the hacking of the hand of the 12-year-old boy Susant Kumbhar from the Patnagarh area of the district in a brick kiln in Karnataka has been making headlines, another gruesome incident of a migrant family of the district has just come to the fore.

According to reports, Gobardhan Nag (41) of Mahulpati village under the Tureikela police station was taken to a brick kiln of GBI Rama Chandra of Gadarpadu in Mehboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh by two labour agents Makardhawja Puta and Nabaghana Kharsel of the village just after the Nabanna festival last year. 

A few days later, both Makardhawja Puta and Nabaghana Kharsel took Gobardhan’s daughter Malti Nag (11) to the same brick kiln. Soon afterwards, they took Gobardhan’s wife Surya and their two other children Rashmita (9) and Jitu (7) to the brick kiln.

Gobardhan’s father Dhruba Nag (65) said, “I came to know about the missing of Gobardhan Nag and the subsequent floating of his body in a pond from a labourer working there. I believe he was killed there. I appeal to the authorities to inquire into the case and take steps to rescue our family members from the brick kiln.”

Balangir Superintendent of Police Ravi Prakash told this correspondent, “I have instructed the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Titilagarh to look into the case.”

OF LATE, STATE TO SET UP HELPLINE FOR MIGRANTS Tuesday, 21 January 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

OF LATE, STATE TO SET UP HELPLINE FOR MIGRANTS

Tuesday, 21 January 2014 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

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In the wake of the brutalities on migrant (Dadan) labourers of Odisha at the workplaces by the unscrupulous Dalals and brick kiln owners in other States, Labour and Employment Minister Bijoyshree Routray on Monday said it has been decided to set up a dedicated helpline for the aid of the labourers in distress anywhere.

Routray said the State Government would soon put up a system to regulate and check migration of labourers, particularly in case of Dadan trafficking. The Chief Secretary has been asked to hold a high-level meeting to formulate a foolproof system to solve the problem.

He said henceforth all the migrant labourers would have to register themselves with the nearby Labour Office before going in search of work in other States. The Dalals would also have to inform the Labour Department about the number of labourers being supplied by them. On the issue of compensation to the Balangir child labourer whose hand was crushed by his employer in Karnataka, Routray said it is being probed under which ground the child had gone to Karnataka along with his parents.

It is being ascertained whether the boy who was tortured was a child labourer. After the receipt of the report, the Government would consider giving any assistance to the victim, he said.

100 VILLAGERS OF SUKTEL AREA ARRESTED

100 VILLAGERS OF SUKTEL AREA ARRESTED

Tuesday, 21 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Lower Suktel is gradually becoming an area of conflict between locals and the administration as the Pardhiaapali villagers continue to oppose the construction of the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project.

The land loser villagers of Pardhiapali and Koindapali are demanding payment of compensation to them as per the new Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

The police arrested around100 villagers, including women and children, from the spot of the agitation. The villagers alleged highhandedness by police officials, including the SDPO), and the Sub-Collector and raised slogans against the district administration.

“When we were putting forth our demand of payment of compensation as per the land acquisition law, the police assaulted us, including old men and women and children,” alleged Hemangi Barik, a woman of Pardhiaapali.

Denying the allegation of assault by the police and informing that about 100 people of Pardhiaapali and Koindapali were arrested, Balangir SP Ravi Prakash said, “We have intimated the villagers’ demand of implementation of the new land acquisition law and compensation as per the law to the higher

authorities.” 

Standing alone against all odds. By Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir 20thjanuary2014 A lone tree stands against all odds in the river Suktel

Standing alone against all odds.
By 
Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir 
20thjanuary2014
A lone tree stands against all odds in the river Suktel

SUKTEL OPPONENTS’ STIR BEFORE ASSEMBLY FROM FEB 3 Monday, 20 January 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

SUKTEL OPPONENTS’ STIR BEFORE ASSEMBLY FROM FEB 3

Monday, 20 January 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

1

The members of the Lower Suktel Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad led by its president Ghunu Sahu and vice-president Udaya Singh Thakur on Sunday vowed to stall construction of the Suktel dam in Magurbeda.

They informed that the anti-project outfit will hold a dharna before the State Assembly from February 3 as well as before the Parliament in New Delhi in February, protesting a recent bid of the district administration to start construction of the controversial dam project.

 “We have been opposing the construction of the dam in the Suktel over last 15 years. We are in favour of zero displacement and small barrages which would bring development in the agriculture sector in the area,” said Parishad vice-president Thakur addressing media persons at Gadshankar Dungripali, 20 km from here.

Our political representatives are not least concerned about our difficulties if the dam is constructed in the Suktel. Hence, it is the displaced villagers, who have to save them and take a decision that goes in their interest, said Thakur.

The old Land Acquisition Act has lapsed and the new Land Acquisition Bill, 2013 has been enacted where in a lot of power has been vested with the Gram Sabha to decide the fate of any project in a locality. Once the village Gram Sabha approves of a project, then only it can be moved forwarded, Thakur explained, demanding the implementation of the new law.

He charged that till date financial irregularities worth Rs 100 crore have been committed with regard to the execution of the lower Suktel irrigation project. In due course of time, the total corruption might increase to Rs 400 crore, he apprehended.

Dinger Kumbhar, a member of the outfit, said that the Government was misleading the people on the total number of villages to be affected by the dam project. A total of 142 villages, including 86 totally and 56 partially, would be affected in the Suktel irrigation project, he clarified, demanding that the Government should refrain from going ahead with the dam which not at all in the interest of the poor villagers and agriculturists.

Meanwhile, Balangir district Collector M Muthu Kumar along with SP Ravi Prakash and other Suktel project officials held a discussion with the villagers at Pardhiapali and listened to their complaints. Later, the Collector exuded confidence that the construction of the dam project would continue without any problem.

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BALANGIR COIN, PHILATELY SHOW A BIG DRAW Monday, 20 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

BALANGIR COIN, PHILATELY SHOW A BIG DRAW

Monday, 20 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

The second Numismatic and Philately-Coin Exhibition, which was held at the Balangir Bahi Haat from January 8 to 14, evoked good response from the visitors.

This year, silver coins of British India and other coins, foreign currency notes and stamps were displayed at three stalls. The coins and stamps were collected by Kamal Chakrabarty, Gangadhar Tripathy, Bajrang Agrawal, Pranay Agrawal, DVS Murty, Gobardhan Pandia, Santosh Agrawal, Harish Bansal, Smita Ghivela and Brahmotri Ghivela.

Besides, a quiz competition on numismatic and philately was held on Saturday to sensitize the mass, especially school and college students, about philately. Renowned philately and numismatic expert Shantanu Panigrahi from Sambalpur acted as judge in the quiz contest. Successful contestants were given small coins as a token of prize. 

The dry Suktel river BY Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir.19th January2014

Amidst Thorns By SudhirMishra/Bolangir 19th January 2014

Amidst Thorns
By
SudhirMishra/Bolangir 19th January 2014 

SUKTEL DISPLACED STAGE DHARNA BEFORE B’NGIR DM HOUSE

SUKTEL DISPLACED STAGE DHARNA BEFORE B’NGIR DM HOUSE

Sunday, 19 January 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Members of Gyana Gadtya’s family of Pardhiapali village in the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project area on Saturday staged a dharna before the Balangir district Collector’ residence here protesting against the damages to their harvested paddy crop and vegetable cultivation and highhandedness of the police on Friday. 

“We had gone to another village to attend a social function. When we got the news (about land acquisition), we rushed back only to find that our paddy stored in the yarn has been damaged, our brinjal cultivation has been destroyed by the police. The police also arrested our other family members,” a sobbing Gyana Gadtya told mediapersons here.

“There are no intellectuals in Balangir. Had intellectuals been active, they would have protested the inhuman act of the police,” said family member Kabi Gadtya.

Four persons were arrested on Friday as they obstructed the construction lower the irrigation project at the dam site at Pardhiapali. A case has been registered at the Sadar police station in this connection. A juvenile has been handed over the Child Welfare Committee and a woman has been released on bail while the three others would also be released,” said Balangir SP Ravi Prakash to this correspondent.

“We had tried to serve the eviction notice to them earlier five times. I have sent a team of officials to inquire into the damages there and take necessary steps after inquiry,” said district Collector M Muthukumar,

A man carrying a bucket of water amidst foggy morning in bolangir today17th January2014 BySudhirMishra

A foggy morning at Bolangir.
Much to the surprise of People of Bolangir woke up to a foggy morning today(17thJanuary2014).The visibility was barely 50meters.By 7am vehicles moves with headlights on.I took few pictures from my NikkonCoolpix camera and posting below.

A man carryinga bucket of water in  thefoggy morning.

AFoggy morningin Bolangir By SudhirMishra/January 17th2014

17th January 2014
A foggy morning at Bolangir.
Much to the surprise of People of Bolangir woke up to a foggy morning today(17thJanuary2014).The visibility was barely 50meters.By 7am vehicles moves with headlights on.I took few pictures from my NikkonCoolpix camera and posting below. 

MIGRANT BALANGIR KID STANDS TO LOSE HAND Friday, 17 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

MIGRANT BALANGIR KID STANDS TO LOSE HAND

Friday, 17 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Hardly has the row over chopping of palms of two migrant labourers of Kalahandi subsided, the report of an injured child migrant labourer of the district, who was attacked by his employer in brick kilns of Karnataka and left seriously injured, has shocked everybody here. The ill-fated boy has received grave injury in hand which may require to be amputated.

According to reports, Sushant Kumbhar (12) of Kadalimunda village in Patnagarh block had migrated along with his parents and family members to Khandeyarnepali in Gulberga district of Karnataka to work in brick kilns. They were taken by two local brokers, Bhutulu Behera and Mohana Meher, from their native place. Initially, the family was paid Rs 2,000 and was assured to be paid Rs15,000 after reaching the

workplace.

However, no money was paid to the migrant family in Karnataka. After working for a few months, they began to face torture at the hands of their employers. Not being able to cope, a few other migrant labourers, who were working with the Balangir family, fled the place.

The kiln owner was forcing ill-fated Sushant and his family to continue to do the hard work there. However, when one day, Sushant refused to oblige, his enraged employer assaulted him with an iron rod and damaged his hand. Even as the victim boy was reeling under pain, he was not provided any treatment.  The district administration of Balangir came to know about the sad plight of Sushant and his kin from some social workers. Later, all the victims were repatriated to the home district.

Sushant’s condition was horrible. He was admitted at the VSS Medical College Hospital at Burla.  “We are going to file a case against the Karnataka brick kiln employer for violating provisions of the Interstate Migrant Workmen Act and the Child Labour Act in this case,” said Balangir District Labour Officer MM Paikray.

Patnagarh SDPO Sunil Kumar Joshi said the family members of the minor lodged a complaint with the police against two middlemen of the Karnataka and another two from Balangir. “We have started a manhunt to nab the two local brokers,” revealed Joshi.   

SALES REPRESENTATIVES PROTEST BAN ON ENTRY TO MCHS Thursday, 16 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

SALES REPRESENTATIVES PROTEST BAN ON ENTRY TO MCHS

Thursday, 16 January 2014 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Members of the local unit of the Odisha Sales Representatives’ Union (OSRU) led by Surulal Matari and others on Monday staged a token dharna before the district collectorate, protesting against a recent order of the RDC (Central) and RDC (South) and a subsequent order of the State Health department Secretary which debar entry of field workers into the campus of the Government medical college and hospitals (MCHs). The union called it as infringement of the Right to Work.

According to Section 15 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, pharmaceutical products can be promoted among the registered medical practitioners in hospitals, dispensaries, medical and research institutions and also among chemists, druggists and pharmacists. Citing the law, the agitating representatives termed the ban on entry into medical college hospitals as illegal.

Moreover, the medical representatives who are known in legal terms as sales promotion employees are competent to promote sales under Specific Sales Promotion Employees (condition and services) Act, 1976. As such, the ban violates the fundamental Right to Work, the agitating representatives pointed out.  

No safety net: Inter-district migrants become more vulnerable April 15, 2011 3:50:47 AM SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR

Dear All
Most of the time usually the story comes out in the media about torture 
and exploitation of migrants labour in outside states.Hardly any 
attention is paid to the migrants tortured within the state.For those 
migrating outside state there is the Interstate migrant works man Act 
of 1979 to regulate.
But for the inter district migrant there is hardly rules/act for their 
protection.
In this story I have tried to highlight the absence of rules/Act for 
the inter district migrants.
I enclose the story for your perusal.
Yours
SudhirMishra
Pioneer/Balangir
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No safety net: Inter-district migrants become more vulnerable

BHUBANESWAR | Friday, April 15, 2011 | Email | Print | | Back 


No safety net: Inter-district migrants become more vulnerable
April 15, 2011 3:50:47 AM

SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR

The recent rescue of 37 migrant labourers, from the Tiger brick kilns 
in Balianta block of Khurda district, has brought a new dimension to 
the fore. 

It tells tale on the absence of any State policy and Act to save the 
migrant labourers from torture and exploitation within the State.

The rescued are all from Raghupadar village under Loisingha block in 
the district here. Migrant labourers of Golamunda, Dharmagarh and 
Koksara also go to Kendrapara area for brick-laying work where 
exploitation by the contractors is allegedly at its height. 

"Even the villagers of Kalahandi district, invariably from all the 
areas, go to Bargarh district every year for crop-cutting. There they 
do not get the minimum wages," pointed out Dilip Das of Kalahandi. 
Pertinent to note that there is the Inter State Migrant (Worksman) Act 
of 1979 for the labourers migrating outside Odisha.

As per the provisions in the Act, they should be taken by a registered 
contractor and all the details of the migrants, including destination 
points should be given to the Labour officials/Panchayat and within 15 
days of migration by the principal employer/labour contactor. 
Ironically, the provisions are more breached than observed.

It is common to find reports of hundreds of labourers migrating to 
outside States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in search 
of jobs and facing exploitations and torture.

While they are usually rescued under the Inter-State Migrant (Worksman) 
Act, only a few cases are rescued under the Bonded Labour (Prohibition 
and Regulation) Act.

However, if a migrant faces torture and exploitation in his own State, 
there is no sufficient law/rules to ensure the rights and entitlements 
of these labourers in order to provide punishment to the principal 
employer, sources said.

"These labourers are partly covered under the Contract Labour Act and 
Labour Act," pointed out Nandi Kishore Sandh of Link Worker Scheme of 
Action Aid.

He further added that it is the Labour Department which rescues and 
releases them while their rehabilitation is the duty of the Panchayati 
Raj Department.

However, there is hardly any coordination between these two 
departments.

"Either there should be effective coordination between the two 
departments to deal with the issue or the issue of rehabilitation of 
the labourers, rescued under the Bonded Labour Act, should be the 
responsibility of the Labour Department," opined Nandi.

Besides, their Public Distribution System (PDS) need to be ensured.

When the poor migrants migrate to outside States, their PDS items are 
almost lost and it finds way to the black market which is a common 
phenomenon in the KBK districts and western Odisha region.

"While the migrant labourers are within the State, why their PDS 
entitlements should not be given to them," Umi Daniel of Bhubaneswar-
based Migration Information and Resource Centre questioned.

As per reports, out of the 10 million migrants, there are seven million 
inter- district migrants in the State.

"If such a huge number of people are migrant labourers in the State, 
the Government should enact a law for them," Daniel opined further.

According to him, in the wake of the Right to Education (RTE) having 
become a fundamental right, the education of the migrant children 
should also be ensured in the place where the migrants are working 
within the State. 

"The tortured, exploited and rescued migrants 'within the State' should 
also be rehabilitated under the Bonded Labour Act as these labourers 
are also working almost under the same condition that of the other 
migrants outside States, besides facing torture and exploitation which 
fulfils the criteria of coming under the purview of the Bonded Labour 
Act," argued Saroj Barik.

If there is a report of migrants being tortured within the State, the 
rural community and civil society organisations should take up the 
rescue process swiftly, he opined further and rued that it is not 
happening in reality.

"A preliminary level dialogue with the Labour, Education, Civil 
Supplies and other departments to deal with the issue is going to be 
taken up soon and we would sensitise the Labour officials how to deal 
with the migrant labour rescue case," informed Umi Daniel.

It is high time the State Government should enact a separate Act for 
these people and should also take necessary steps to check 
exploitation, city residents here have demanded. 


SudhirMishra
Journalist
The Pioneer
Balangir(Odisha)
94374-30812