Govt wakes to the plight of Palamuru workers

Hyderabad, Apr 28 : Concerned over the recent death of six labourers from the Mahabubnagar district's Palamuru area in an accident in Mumbai, the state Government has ordered an official probe into the plight of the state's migrant workers.

In the Mumbai accident, six labourers, five of them tribals, were killed when a wall under construction fell on them. Maharashtra Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

The incident has brought to fore the plight of about ten lakh migrant Palamuru workers, who were often exploited by the Contractors financially and sexually. The family members of workers at times were not even allowed to perform their last rites, when they died at work sites.

According to an estimate, over 400 workers die annually outside the State and they do not even get a decent burial or cremation.

Palamuru workers highlighted their plight by attempting to commit suicide in New Delhi on Republic Day but the Government had failed to respond.

The State Government is now planning to put an end to the migration of labourers by providing them gainful employment in their native places.

UNI