BHUBANESWAR: Labourers from Odisha stranded in Bangladesh will be brought back home soon, the state govt said on Monday. The govt move comes in the wake of reports of atrocities on Hindus.Labour minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia said the matter was discussed with chief minister Mohan Majhi. District labour officers have been asked to compile a list of workers who have migrated to Bangladesh as the govt is not sure how many are stranded in the neighbouring country.”Many labourers go informally.Very few migrate through the official route after informing the labour officer concerned. Family members back here are not even aware whom to approach to ensure their return and are under stress,” Singhkhuntia told TOI.Locate workers stranded in Bangladesh: Labour min to officials That’s why I have asked the labour officers to use their sources and find out who and where the workers are stranded and what is their condition now and whether they are in touch with their family members,” the minister added.Some of the workers are engaged in textile factories while others work as plumbers and plumbing assistants, carpenters and masons.Singhkhuntia said they are in touch with the ministry of external affairs and will provide a list of those who have gone through the official channel.”We will introduce a toll free number and assign some officials for the particular job of establishing contact with the labourers. We will bring out advertisements in local as well as national dailies, where the toll free number, dos and dont’s and other details will be mentioned for convenience,” minister added.Migration researcher Umi Daniel, who helped rescue eight workers from Sri Lanka, said the labourers go via placement agencies and they mostly work in construction, oil exploration and heavy industry sectors. “In the case of Bangladesh, where the capital and periphery areas are most affected, it is a herculean task to identify the labourers, many of whom may have lost mobile phones,” Daniel said.”Labourers from Ganjam and coastal districts migrate to Bangladesh for work. If they have valid passports, they should have it with them. At times companies they work for keep their passports with them, leaving the workers in the lurch,” Daniel added.
Odisha plans to bring back workers stranded in Bangladesh
