In Rayagada: Two tribal migrant brothers succumb to serious illness because of maltreatment by the employer
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, December 11: Kashipur is always in the news for its hunger death, cholera, mango kernel as staple food during lean season, resistance for mining, etc. It is now for yet another bad reason: deaths due to migration.
In a shocking incident two tribal brothers named Maheshwar Majhi (20) and minor Rangadhar Majhi (17) of Makapadar village of Tikiri in Kashipur block migrated to work in the shrimp factory in Palmanpeta, Visakhapatnam district of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh state less than 4 months ago. While working there, Rangadhar developed fever in the month of November. However, the concerned factory owner made him work instead of providing any medical facilities. While the younger brother was suffering from fever , the elder brother Maheshwar developed fever.
The illness of the brothers duo continued to increase day by day due to fever without treatment. They were not even provided food during their illness.
Though they became physically weak and wanted to return home, they were neither give their due wage nor alloed to leave the factory. They were coerced to remain like bonded labourers in the factory. As the fever was unbearable, they took loan from the supervisor and came to Visakhapatnam on Saturday and finally reached Rayagada by train.
Since both the brothers were seriously ill, they became unconscious in railway station. The RPF spotted them and admitted them into the DHH, Rayagada at 12:45 pm on Saturday. However, 15 minutes later, the minor Rangadhar died and the elder brother Maheshwar was in critical condition and was treated at the medical. Unfortunately, Maheswar has succumbed to his illness on last Monday.
According to Maheshwar while in hospital, they were not provided proper food and wage. So they were compelled to run away from there.
According to the family members of the deceased brothers, there is no work in the village and hence, they are forced to migrate in search of work. Surprisingly, the District Labour Officer Jasmin Sahu is not fully aware of the incident even after the deaths of these tribal brothers, one of whom is a minor. The lackadaisical attitude of labour department is reflected when it does not have statistics regarding child labour, bonded labour, migrant labour, etc. They hardly monitor these illegal labour systems and have rehabilitation measures in place. There are instances of trafficking of minor girls outside by the broker labour contractors.
The district has recently has become first as aspirational district which is gauged on the basis of Key Performance Indicators. Rayagada has also been bestowed with Bhoomi Samman by President of India for achieving saturation of the core components of the Digital India Land Records Modernization programe (DILRMP). Earlier it got awards for good performance in MGNREGA and rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities(PwD). “One really wonders how and on what basis these awards are given while score of poors from this tribal hinterland still migrate in search of two square meals a day. While the tribal poor were dieng because of impoverishment in the district Headquarters Hospital(DHH), the district administration alongwith Tribal Minister, MLAs are merry making in celebrating “Chaiti” in Kalyan Singhpur spending crores of rupees without any accountability”, lamented Shyam Das, a leader of PwDs.
