Siaram Naik, a migrant labourer of Boerbhadi village in Nuapada district, died in a brick kiln in UP without getting any treatment in March. It is alleged that the kiln owner forced him to work despite his illness. Siaram's wife Sundarbati and her five minor children returned home helpless and are now languishing in poverty without getting any support from any quarter. The culprits who are responsible for the death of Siaram are moving scot-free.
Murlidhar Sabar and Giridhari Dharua, two ITI students of the district, died in Chennai in March. They met with an accident while going to a cement factory, where they were employed. The district administration of Nuapada gave Rs 10,000 each from its relief fund to their families and the issue died down. No one could know how these youths, one of whom a minor, were sent to the factory in an unknown place.
Aswini Suraj of Sakhatora village of the district died in January in a brick kiln in Andhra. laltu Raut of Pagarpani village under Nuapada block died as he was getting down from a train while travelling with the labour contractor to the workplace at Bengaluru.
Somnath Majhi of Karlapani villagr of Sinapali block died in the kiln in UP. The family members staying with the workers mostly wife and children were sent back to their homes by the kiln owners without following any formalities of inter-State migration laws. The dependants of the deceased labourers now wait for Government support under law but in vain as they wered not registered officially anywhere as migrant workers.
"It is an organised crime encouraged by Government officials in connivance with the labour contractors. The officials whose responsibility it is to save the interest of the migrant labourers only help the contractors. The DlO is the main culprit," said Rabi Mangaraj of Garib Sena, who is on an indefinite hunger strike in front of the Collector's office at Nuapada since Wednesday demanding action against culprits engaged in exploitation of labourers, MGNREGS corruption and attack on human rights workers. Family members of the deceased labourers are also sitting with him in demonstration.
"Garib Sena members have drawn attention of the district administration to the corruption in MGNREGS. We believe that the scheme can check distress migration. But unfortunately, hundreds of workers have not been paid their dues for months. Delayed payment is the main cause that weans away workers from this flagship scheme," added Mangaraj.
The Sena has demanded action against the officials and panchayat representatives who have embezzled MGNREGS funds by violating rules and engaging machine in Tarbod GP under Komna block.
This issue was raised by Madhab Majhi, a Ward Member of the panchayat in February staging a hunger strike demanding action, but the vested interest groups manhandled him and his supporters and forced them to withdraw from strike.
"Majhi had lodged an FIR at the Komna police station which included Sections under the ST & SC atrocities Act, but the culprits were not arrested by police on a plea of the restrictions imposed by the recent Supreme Court order," said Mangaraj.
The Garib Sena has demanded detailed information from the District labour Officer on the total number of migrant workers of the district working in different States. "The DlO knows everything in detail as he has link with the labour contractors, but he will not share it," alleged Mangaraj.
The Nuapada ADM is learnt to have directed different departments of the district including the DlO and the blocks to provide information on issues raised by Mangaraj. "We will not break our strike until action is taken," said members of the Garib Sena.