Safe return of lakhs of workers has been ensured in two and a half years

Dr. Ajay Ojha.

Outstanding payment of Rs 2 crores has been guaranteed to the workers.

Migration Centers to be launched in Leh and Kerala.

Ranchi, 20 July. A resident of Chano village of Bishnugargh, Hazaribagh, Chetal Mahto had no expectation to be able to return to his homeland, or had the slightest hope of receiving remuneration by the company he was working for. A despondent Mahto, was made to believe that all the labourers he had put in the past few months would go to vain. He got troubled with thoughts that made him feel he wouldn’t be able to provide for his family. In the meantime, his companions after making all efforts to make a return to their homeland, made a plea to the state government. All the worries and concerns of Chetlal got dispelled when the Hon’ble Chief Minister gave instructions to the Department of Labour to ensure safe return of Ramprasad and his associates. This ushered in happiness to all of them. Following the orders of the Chief Minister, the collective efforts made by the Department of Labour and the Safe and Responsible Migration Centre ensured the return of all the 30 workers. Along with this, the due payment of the labourers was also made to be paid to them. Today, this group of workers is happily dwelling with their families in their villages. Similarly, following the orders of the Chief Minister, Fucha Mahli who was stuck in Andamans as a bonded labour for more than three decades was ensured to make a safe return back to the state. In the last two and a half years lakhs of labourers and workers who have faced the brunt of migration and found themselves trapped across the nation and abroad have been guaranteed a safe return to their homeland.

Outstanding wages of Rupees Two Crores were ensured to be paid

Following the instructions of the Chief Minister, the joint efforts made by the Department of Labour and the State Migrant Control Room not only ensured the safe return of the workers but also guaranteed that they are made to be paid their outstanding wages. From 27 March 2020 to 30 June 2022, a massive sum of Rs 2,27,16,858.62 was made to be paid benefitting 3,108 labourers/ workers. Also, a sum of Rs 6,39,31,972 was paid to the families of 168 workers from the state posthumously.

This is an ongoing campaign for those seeking help

Registration, awareness and publicity is being done by the State Migrant Control Room in each of the districts regarding labour registration and migrant registration in the Shramadhan portal of the Department of Labour, Government of Jharkhand. This shall ensure the migrants are rendered with their rights and are also connected to a host of benefits through the medium of various schemes being run for them. Apart from the awareness work that the State Migrant Control Room is doing in terms of Labour and Migrant Registration efforts are also being made to rescue the migrant laborers, ensuring the outstanding wages are paid to them and also in case of any mishappenings the dead bodies of the migrants is brought back to their homeland. Apart from this a host of other measures like linking the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pension Scheme, Ration Scheme is also being done. Also, to take the initiatives of safe and responsible migration further, the Safe and Responsible Migration Centres are being set up in 3 districts of the state which includes Gumla, West Singhbhum and Dumka. Migration Centres are also set to be launched in other states like Kerala and Leh. The campaign which was launched last year to extend help to the laborer is still going on. For this, the State Migrant Control Room is continuously active. Seven landlines and 5 WhatsApp numbers have been issued for the workers.

These numbers are – 0651-2481055, 0651-2480058, 0651-2480083, 0651-2482052, 0651-2481037,0651-2481188,18003456526, 9470132591, 9431336427, 9431336398, 9431336472, 9431336432