Odia migrants in Kerala in dire straits

Bhubaneswar: At least 96 stranded Odia migrant workers at two different places — Kozhikode and Kottayam — in Kerala urged the Odisha government to help them return home. As they don’t have money and ration, they are desperately trying to return, said a labourer.
Bhabagrahi Barad, 35, a native of Dihakhauruni near Rajsunakhala in Nayagarh district, is stranded along with 75 others at Koothali in Kozhikode of Kerala.“We had come here seven months ago to work in a construction company. Some of us are working as masons while others are construction labourers. We came here because this Kerala firm gives Rs 600 as wage per day. The wage is high. But now we don’t have any job here so we want to return home,” he added.
The workers belong to Khurda, Nayagarh and Cuttack districts. “We had last received our wages on March 20. Though the company had provided food for some days, the construction work has not yet started. Our family members are worried. We have registered our names in Odisha government’s portal. We also met local police, but in vain,” he added.
Manas Kumar Pradhan, 32, a native of Begunia in Khurda district, said they don’t have money to arrange buses to return home. “Only three Shramik Special trains have been run between Kerala and Odisha. We request the government to run more such trains and provide us tickets for travelling,” he added.
He said they have many aged people among them and their family members are calling them to return. “We don't know how to get tickets for Shramik Special trains. Nobody gives proper information about the special trains and the procedure to get tickets,” he added.
Jitendra Behera, 32, a native of Champatipur in Nayagarh district, said he along with 19 people from Khurda and Nayagarh districts came to Kottayam seven months ago in search of work. “We were working as construction labourers in a real estate company. Our work was stopped on March 21. We do not have any job and we spent our money in purchasing ration and food. Anyhow we have to return home,” he added.
He said they don’t want to walk or cycle back to Odisha. “We saw migrant people are dying on roads. We don’t want to take any risk. I am the only son of my parents, that’s why they are calling me everyday and insisting on my return. We are also feeling nervous as we don’t have money to hire a bus. We request the government to give tickets for travelling in special trains,” said Behera.