Basta: A group of 13 tribal men and women from Basta area in Balasore have gone to Gujarat in search of jobs, but they have allegedly ended up being exploited and tortured in a company there.
This incident has sent shock waves across the district. Their families sought help of the administration to rescue the tribals.
They also alleged that the tribals are neither given proper food nor wages.
According to a report, Sunil Marandi from Palasia in Darada panchayat used to work in a marble and tiles company in Gujarat. He had taken 25 villagers to the company on the promise of good wages.
After reaching Gujarat, Sunil had abandoned the labourers with a middleman from Baliapal area. The middleman assured the labourers of free accommodation but expense of food would be deducted from their wages.
Some villagers were not provided fooding, let alone being paid wages. They secretly came out from there and returned to the village. They revealed their ordeal to the villagers. In all, 13 villagers were stranded there as they had no money to pay for the return journey.
The company has allegedly detained them and they are not allowed to communicate with their kin over phone, their families alleged.
About 15 days ago, Sunil returned to the village. When the villagers sought to know the whereabouts of the people he had taken to Gujarat, he has been absconding since then.
The tribals who were stranded are Chania Hembram, his wife Shanti Hembram, Bhaghrai Hembram and his wife Hisi Hembram, Pichu Murmu, Makara Hansda, Anam Marandi, Salma Marandi, Fagada Hembram, Renta Marandi, Turia Hembram, Biswanth Hembram and Shanti Hembram.
Their families apprised the sarpanch and samiti members at the panchayat office and appealed to the administration to rescue their stranded kin in Gujarat. PNN
