BHADRAK:Normalcy is gradually limping back to Bhadrak town. Schools, colleges, business establishments and financial institutions have started functioning normally during the curfew relaxation period. But, things are yet to improve for the labour sector.Hundreds of labourers have lost several hours of work during the 13 days of tension that followed communal violence in the town. Though most of the labourers have left Bhadrak after the communal violence some of whom have stayed back fear police and are left with no work, said Sushanta Mohapatra, a labour contractor.
Hundreds of labourers gather at SBI Square here from 6 am to 8 am every day near main traffic junction waiting for their services to be hired by contractors. Though the curfew has been relaxed during day time, the labourers have to return dejected after waiting for two hours as the contractors do not turn up. The labourers are mostly from Ghatagoan, Ananadpur, Thakurmunda in Keonjhar district and Jashipur, Karanjia and Rairangpur in Mayurbhanja district. “I along with others wait for contractors to come and avail our services for eight hours a day,” said Abdul Pathan of Kazimahala adding, after the tension we are forced to go without work and food on some days. The labourers are hired by contractors of the town and neighbouring places for road construction and agricultural works. The demand for labourers for construction of high rises has also multiplied, said lawyer Dibyasingh Nayak, labour leader of CPM. For marriage purposess too, they are booked in advance from this place, he added. The communal violence erupted over offensive remarks on Lord Rama and other Hindu deities on April 6.