Bhubaneswar, February 18: Over the past two years, 207 migrant workers from Odisha have tragically lost their lives while working in other states. This information was provided by Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia in response to a written query from MLA Upasna Mohapatra during the Odisha Assembly session on Tuesday.
The minister's statement revealed that the state government bears the cost of repatriating the workers' bodies and arranging their last rites. In the last two years, the government has spent a total of Rs. 30,29,854 for these expenses.
The Minister further clarified that if a deceased worker was registered under the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, the worker’s family is provided financial support, including funeral expenses, in the event of a natural or accidental death. Similarly, families of workers enrolled under the Odisha Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Board also receive assistance.
Additionally, the Employee’s Compensation Act, of 1923, ensures that the families of workers are compensated after addressing any grievances.
