Odia Workers Safely Repatriated from Thailand After Visa Expiration Crisis
In a significant humanitarian effort, two Odia workers, Prasant Rout and Jasobanta Sahoo, who were stranded in Thailand following severe visa complications, have been successfully brought back to Bhubaneswar by the Odisha state government. Their safe return on Saturday marks the culmination of a distressing ordeal that began when they overstayed their visas while working abroad.
Details of the Visa and Employment Situation
Residents of Upei and Kujjipur villages in Kendrapara district, Rout and Sahoo originally traveled to Thailand in August last year along with four other workers: Bijay Kumar Swain, Hemanta Kumar Behera, Jayanta Kumar Malik from Rajkanika block of Kendrapara district, and Manaranjan Sahu from Chandabali block of Bhadrak district. The group intended to work in a plywood manufacturing factory but faced immediate challenges due to improper documentation.
All six individuals entered Thailand on tourist visas instead of the required work visas, a critical oversight that led to legal complications. While the visas of the other four workers remained valid, those of Rout and Sahoo expired, forcing them into an overstay situation that left them vulnerable and unable to return home without intervention.
Government Coordination Facilitates Rescue
The repatriation was coordinated by the Directorate of Odisha Parivar under the state's culture department, demonstrating a proactive approach to citizen welfare. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi publicly acknowledged the successful operation on social media platform X, crediting the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Resident Commissioner of Odisha, and Odisha Parivar for making the return possible.
This intervention became necessary after the four other workers managed to return to Odisha a week earlier with state government assistance. However, Rout and Sahoo were left behind due to their expired visa status, highlighting the bureaucratic hurdles faced by migrant workers in distress.
Exploitation and Pleas for Help
The workers' plight was exacerbated by alleged exploitation at the hands of their employer, an Indian national who owns the plywood factory. According to Rout, they were promised a monthly salary of Rs 25,000 in Indian currency along with 500 Baht as pocket money. However, from the very first day, the pocket money was denied, and salaries were either deducted or delayed under various pretexts.
Frustrated by the non-payment and poor working conditions, the workers released a video on social media pleading for assistance to return home. "We approached the factory owner for facilitating the reissuance of our visas, and he said that he would look into it. But he never did," Sahoo recounted, describing the employer's unfulfilled promises.
Appreciation and Ongoing Concerns
Upon their safe arrival in Bhubaneswar, both workers expressed gratitude to the Odisha government for facilitating their return. However, they also pleaded for further intervention to recover their pending salaries from the employer, underscoring the financial losses incurred during their stranded period.
This incident sheds light on the broader issues faced by Indian migrant workers abroad, including visa irregularities, employer exploitation, and the challenges of navigating foreign labor laws. The successful repatriation sets a precedent for state-led rescue operations and highlights the importance of diplomatic and administrative coordination in protecting citizens overseas.
