Scenes of suffering and despair of a migrant labourer from Kendrapada district in Oman came to the fore as he sent a video clip and posted the same in social media on Wednesday, narrating his ordeal and urging the district administration for his repatriation back home.
Debashis Panigrahi (25), a resident of Amber under Khadianta panchayat of Pattamundai block, lured by offer of lucrative salary, had gone to Oman to work as a machine operator, with the help of a Bhubaneswar-based placement agency eight months back.
After reaching at Oman, he joined as a machine operator at Oman-based Golden International Plastic Factory. However, he fell sick in last two months and failed to work in the company. As a result, the company denied him his salary. Neither was he provided treatment.
Consequently, circumstances forced him to remain empty stomach most of the time as he did not have money to buy food and medicine, said Debasish in his video clip.
“I want to return to my native land, but the Oman-based company has withheld my passport, Visa and other relevant documents. Though I tried to communicate with the Bhubaneswar-based placement agency that employed me here to help me, but the latter was not responding to my phone calls,” said the ill-fated youth with moist eyes.
Debashis urged the State Government to take steps for bringing him back to his native home. He too brought his sorry plight to the notice of the District Labour Officer, Kendrapada.
When contacted, Sub Collector Niranjan Behera informed that the district administration would direct the District Labour Officer to conduct an inquiry and take step to bring the youth back to his native village from Oman.