Within a span of 15 days, a second case of death of a bonded labour of Nuapada district working in the brick kiln of Telangana has been reported. Debendra Chhatria of Saradhapur village had died 15 days ago in Hatepeta while he was going in a loaded tractor to deliver bricks. The second unfortunate man was Babulal Khadia, a tribal landless labourer of Duajhar village working in a brick kiln of Angoli in Telangna. He died on April 30 last due to prolonged illness.
Babulal is one of the 20 labourers of Duajhar who left the village in January to work in Kalakunda in Telangana. “He fell sick after three months of hard work but continued to work as the employer did not allow leave,” said his widow Kuntula Khadia. “He was not even allowed to inform us about his illness till he was immobile due to swelling of body,” she added.
Kuntula, after being informed that her husband was seriously ill, had requested the local labour Sardar Joge Meher for help. “I requested him to tell the employer to leave my husband, but the Sardar did not respond,” said Kuntula.
Finally she sent one Bhaskar Kadia to Angoli to bring Babulal back. Reaching the workplace, Bhaskar saw that Babula was in need of immediate treatment. But as he was not familiar to the new place, he decided to bring Babulal to a hospital nearer to the village. “Thus, we came to Bhawanipatna, but he died in the platform before we could have started for the hospital,” said Bhaskar. Babulal has three small children, wife and old mother. With the support her clan people, his wife managed to complete his last rites. But she now is unable to think how to manage the family.