Another incidence of exploitation of Odia laboures outside the State has come to the fore with some workers approaching the Gajapati District labour Officer (DlO) to rescue and bring back eight labourers, who are working as slaves in a brick kiln in Tamil Nadu for the last two years without being paid.
A group of seven laboures of Gangabada area under Rayagarh block submitted a memorandum to DlO Venu Gopal Rao in this regard.
“We, 15 people from Gangabada, worked in a brick kiln at Tirubhari in Tamil Nadu for the last two years. While we each were promised a monthly wage of Rs 7,000 and free food and stay, the kiln owner didn’t give a single pie. While we managed to escape from the kiln came to our village, the rest eight are still working there. Hence, the administration should bring them back and save their lives,” said Prakash Sabar, Balkrushna Karjee, Naraingha Sabar and Krishna Sabar, who among seven came to the village recently.
The eight persons are Indra Karjee, Kantaru Sabar, Raghu Sabar, Markant Sabar, Bhashkar Sabar, Ramesh Sabar, Kora Sabar and Krisha Sabar.
When contacted, the DlO said he has received a written complaint from the workers. “It is a sensitive issue. A special team will be sent to Tamil Nadu to bring back the entrapped workers,” said Gopal Rao.