“Mission Uddhar” is launched by the Balangir district police
Balangir District Police has initiated “Mission Uddhar” to halt the “inhuman” movement of labour force as seasonal labourer migration from western Odisha districts picks up speed. Mission Uddhar involves the temporary police outposts operating in chosen railway stations.
“For the wrong motives, the labour exodus from Balangir and neighbouring regions made headlines. Workers are mistreated while travelling to their jobs, frequently crammed into unreserved train cabins like sardines. We are prepared to streamline labour migration under “Mission Uddhar,” according to Balangir Superintendent of Police Kusalkar Nitin Dagudu.
Migrant workers and informants have easy access to police officers stationed at railway stations including Kantabanji, Muribahal, Lathore, and Titlgarh. Additionally, auto-rickshaw drivers and suppliers have been included to facilitate information sharing regarding labour migration.
Other modes of transportation, such as ordinary passenger bus services and contracted bus services from unspecified destinations, are being closely monitored by the local authorities.
However, Mr. Dagudu promised that police will take a comprehensive approach to handle labourers migrating in a distress and make sure they do it in a respectful manner. Children would be given priority when rescuing labourers in need.
In order to increase migration awareness in Balangir’s 30 gramme panchayats, the district police has begun collaborating with UNICEF and Aide et Action, a global NGO. The exodus, which began in October, will last through the end of December. In the early half of January, even some people would travel.
“Under the State Police’s “Ama Police” project, our staff will enlist the assistance of local self-help group members, anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, volunteers, and members of the local panchayati raj institutions to spread knowledge of safer travel and workplace precautions. Their phone numbers will be exchanged so that they may get in touch if there are any problems, he said.
The Balangir SP emphasised that the goal of police was not to stop labour migration and that measures would be made to ensure that workers migrated to other States through registered labour agents with the State Labor Department.
“A labourer should be permitted to return to the village during the working season if there are emergency circumstances. These amenities are available to interstate labourers who register with the State Labor Department, he said. The Balangir police announced that they would take harsh punishment against labour brokers who were discovered to be involved in human trafficking.
Prasanta Patnaik