Bolangir: The police have rescued 462 migrant labourers in the last seven days while they were being transported to other states, SP K. Siva Subramani said at a press meet here. Eighteen migrant chiefs were also arrested. The SP said the rescued labourers were not registered and the arrested chiefs do not have licences.
The police got the rescued labourers registered on the spot by officials of the district labour office.
The rescue of so many labourers in a week exposes the tall claims of the administration that it is providing jobs to labourers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Employment Act.
Various labour associations objected to the way the administration deals with labourers. They said the administration has failed to provide jobs to the labourers of the district. Instead of facilitating their easy transportation, the administration is obstructing them. This would lead to starvation, they said.
On the other hand the rescue has made matters worse for the rescued labourers. They are sure that they would not get any work in the district, and are apprehensive of sudden raids by the chiefs from whom they have taken advances.
Due to the prolonged stir by anganwadi workers the distribution of identity cards to labourers has also not been done. In case of any mishap what would become of them and their families, locals asked.
Another problem the district is facing is child labour. It is alleged that the child welfare committee (CWC) and the district child protection unit (DCPU) are doing their jobs properly.
Collector Asish Thakre said all labourers would be given jobs under MGNREGA. There would not be any problem in payments, he added. PNN
