Bolangir: The death of Kanhu Mallick from Sulekha village under Belpada block in Odisha’s Bolangir district on Sunday and the subsequent fate of his family can be described as a classic case of how migrant labourers are maltreated by their employers in other states.
According to reports, Kanhu had gone with four members of his family to work in a brick kiln in Sata Nagar in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh two months back. During their stay at the brick kiln, Kanhu fell severely ill allegedly owing to overwork and lack of proper food and medicines. Seeing Kanhu’s condition, his employer, locally known as Sardar, allowed him and his family, barring his minor daughter, to return to his village.
While Kanhu succumbed to his ailment five days after returning to his village on Sunday, his former employer has held his minor daughter captive demanding a return of Rs 50,000 which the unfortunate migrant labourer had allegedly taken as a loan from Sardar.
Kanhu’s wife Lakshmipriya is now worried about their fate. While the main breadwinner of the family is no more, her youngest daughter is in the clutches of the inhuman brick kiln owner. Seeing the family’s condition, local villagers have staged protests and demanded that the administration arrange for the release of the girl and financial assistance to Kanhu’s family.
Meanwhile, after learning about the hapless family’s plight, Belpada tehsildar Ban Bihari Harpal went to Sulekela village and granted assistance of Rs 10,000 to the family from the Red Cross fund.
