Jhumpura: Even as complaints are lodged with the authorities concerned over exploitation of workers by contractors at various bridge construction sites in Keonjhar district, they are yet to draw the attention of the labour department.
According to reports, the contractors, after bagging government projects such as bridge, multi-storey building, overhead tank, engage local workers at the site. However, the workers are not given the required safety gears like shoes, helmet, safety belts and hand gloves even if they are made to work in hazardous conditions.
If anyone raises his voice against the practice, he is terminated on the charge of fuelling unrest among the other workers. This apart, the workers engaged in the government projects in forest regions of this block are paid much less remuneration than what has been fixed by the government. Worst, the contractor often removes workers, who sustain critical injuries during work, from the job by handing over a paltry amount to their kin, it was alleged.
As many workers have not registered their names with the labour department, the contractors manage to bend the rule in their favour.
There are several instances when workers had sustained injuries while working in projects like bridge, building and overhead water tanks along NH-215. But the files containing the complaints of the kin of the injured or dead persons are gathering dust at the office of the labour department. Though, the administration often orders probe in such cases, they hardly help the victims.
In a fresh example, the contractors have employed workers flouting government rule in ongoing bridge projects under Biju Setu Yojana on river Baitarani near Patuakuda and Satighat village under Jhumpura block.
It is learnt that the contractors, on intention, don’t forward the list of the workers engaged in major projects to the labour department and Factories and Boilers (F&B) department. This reduces the chances of labourers to get compensation in case of mishaps.
As the projects are being executed by the rural development (RD) department, the concerned engineers should reprimand contractors over the issue which is not happening.
While district labour officer Akhay Pradhan said he would look into the matter, UC Sutar, an officer of F&B department, said he can take action if the labour and RD departments send a report on the wrongdoing. PNN
