Berhampur MP Urges Chief Minister for Comprehensive Policy to Combat Labour Trafficking
Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, Member of Parliament from Berhampur, has made an urgent appeal to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, calling for immediate intervention to formulate a robust policy framework aimed at combating labour trafficking and exploitation. The MP emphasized the critical need to establish a "safe migration protocol" to safeguard the dignity and rights of workers at their workplaces.
Recent Incident Highlights Vulnerabilities of Migrant Labourers
In a detailed letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Panigrahy referenced the recent distressing case involving three migrant labourers from Digapahandi area in Ganjam district, who faced severe physical and mental torture and exploitation in Tamil Nadu. This incident, he stated, starkly reveals the profound vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers from Odisha.
The MP highlighted how middlemen often lure unsuspecting youths from villages like Laxmi Narayanpur with false promises of employment, leading to situations of exploitation. He commended the Berhampur police, in collaboration with their Tamil Nadu counterparts, for successfully rescuing the victims and arresting the involved middlemen, as reported in recent news publications.
Proposed Measures to Ensure Safe Migration and Dignity
To prevent such "distress migration" and protect the workforce, Panigrahy put forward several key recommendations:
- Digital Migration Tracking System (DMTS): Implement a mandatory registration system where every migrant worker and their contractor must register before leaving the district. This data should be accessible to both home and labour departments for effective monitoring.
- Empowered Sarpanches: Legally empower and fund village sarpanches to maintain a "migration registrar" to track movements and prevent unauthorized recruitment.
- Contractor Regulations: Bar contractors from recruiting labourers for trafficking without the knowledge of panchayat and district labour officers, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Pravasi Suraksha Insurance Scheme: Introduce a state-sponsored insurance scheme for inter-state migrants to cover accidental injuries and provide legal aid, enhancing their security.
- Odia Language Helpline: Establish a dedicated helpline in Odia language in major industrial hubs outside the state to offer immediate assistance to migrant workers in distress.
- Anti-Trafficking Cells: Form specialized anti-trafficking cells within migration-prone districts like Ganjam and Gajapati to monitor railway stations and prevent middlemen from luring youths into trafficking.
Accelerating Economic Independence Through Local Initiatives
Panigrahy also stressed the importance of accelerating the "Ukrash Odisha" (Make in Odisha) initiatives, particularly in south Odisha, to create local employment opportunities. He advocated for providing easy credit to returnee migrants to help them start their own startups, thereby fostering economic independence and reducing the need for risky migration.
This comprehensive approach aims not only to address immediate threats but also to build a sustainable ecosystem where workers can migrate safely and with dignity, supported by robust policies and community-driven safeguards.
