VIZAG: As many as 34 labourers from the north coastal districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, who migrated to Iran have been struggling for survival, after the company they were working has shut down, owing to severe cold conditions.
With lack of proper food and shelter, the migrants have been suffering from severe health problems. According to sources, as many as 17 labourers from Talabadra village of Sompeta mandal in Srikakulam district, 10 from
Bobbili and seven from Garividi of Vizianagaram district migrated to Iran through one Jayaram, an agent from Bhubaneswar in July this year. The labourers paid around `1 lakh each to the agent for jobs of fitters, welders and labourers in the company, Kaiboalais Ferro Alloys at Maku in Iran. A salary of `40,000 per month for eight hours of duty was promised.
“The company authorities seized the worker’s passports after their joining. Though the company paid the promised salaries initially, gradually they reduced it and now they are paid `25,000 per month,” said G Eswara Rao uncle of Naresh Kumar, who is among the victims, at Talabadra, adding that the duty hours was also increased.
The situation turned for the worse, after the temperature plummeted to -15 degrees Celsius there in November and the company shut down the unit following directions by the respective government.
“Neither did the management pay compensation to the workers for it nor allow the labourers to return to India, as their passports are still with the company,” said G Eswara Rao, adding that eight of the labourers were suffering from infections which might pose threat to their life.
The victims have been urging the Government of India to rescue them. Meanwhile, the families of the labourers belonging to Talabadra village have requested the government to bring the victims back to the country. Minister for Rural development and Housing Kimidi Mrunalini promised to extend all possible help in this regard. Mrunalini, along with Vizianagaram district in-charge minister Palle Raghunadh Reddy, have already spoken to officials at AP Bhavan in New Delhi.
The ministers told us that the AP Bhawan officials were taking measures to bring back the victims safely, the family members of the labourers said.
“The middleman collected huge money from the workers and duped them. The middleman gave visa to Turkey, but the labourers were taken to Iran from where the troubles began. The company used to serve contaminated food to the labourers,” G Eswara Rao said.