All 13 migrant workers from Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district, who were allegedly harassed by their employer in Gujarat’s Morbi district, returned home safely on Friday following the intervention of the state government, officials confirmed.
It was alleged that the company employing the workers in Morbi denied them food and other basic facilities and did not pay their salaries when they expressed their wish to return home. The workers, hailing from Matihana panchayat in Baharagora block, reached home on Friday afternoon.
Migrant Control Cell team leader Shikha Lakra said, “The migrant workers reached Tatanagar Station by train from Gujarat on Friday morning and travelled to their native place by bus. We coordinated with the help of Morbi district administration to ensure that outstanding dues of the 13 workers – around Rs 68,000 – were paid to them.”
State Government Steps In After Families’ Appeal
The labour department and East Singhbhum district administration reached out to the workers earlier this week after JMM leader Kunal Sarangi highlighted the families’ plight on social media and sought the intervention of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The CM directed the labour department and East Singhbhum deputy commissioner to take necessary action.
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Sarangi said, “The families of the migrant workers, mostly tribals of the Baharagora block, met me on Monday and shared their plight. They alleged that the workers were being denied food and other facilities, and also not paid their salaries when they sought to go home. The relatives have also lodged a complaint with the Baharagora police station in this regard.”
