As many as 72 emigrant workers were rescued from six countries and brought to the State between 2018 and March 2019, informed Labour and State Employees Insurance Minister Sushant Singh in the State Assembly on Tuesday.
In response to a question of BJD member Chakramani Kanhar, the Minister also informed that 1,387 Odiah migrant workers were rescued from different States during the period.
While the highest 62 emigrant workers belonging to Ganjam were rescued from Saudi Arabia, one each from the district was rescued from Kuwait and Oman. Similarly, one worker each from Khordha district was rescued from Bahrain and Dubai and five from the distrit were rescued from Malaysia. A worker from Cuttack district was also rescued from Kuwait.
The Minister further informed that 745 Odia workers were rescued from the cyclone hit areas of Kerala in August 2018.
As many as 2,741 licences were issued to contractors for employing 1,38,348 Odia workers at different places outside the State during the period, said the Minister.
As many as 11 migrant worker-prone districts have been identified and many efforts have been made to create employments in those districts. They are Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Subarnapur, Nuapada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Khordha.
Toll free numbers 155368 (for within the State) and 18003456703 ( for outside the State) have been in use for workers to seek supports from the Government, the Minister said.