Formulate Scheme For Stranded Odia Workers In Other States, BJP Tells Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: Taking note of the plight of thousands of Odia migrant workers stranded in neighbouring states due to the complete nationwide lockdown clamped to prevent spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the BJP on Sunday urged the Odisha government to formulate and implement a new scheme for these hapless workers.

“Thousands of migrant Odia workers are stranded in Tamil Nadu, Surat, Bengaluru and other states due to the nationwide lockdown. As these workers have no jobs as due to closure of companies caused by the 21-day lockdown, most of them have remained without food as all hotels and roadside food joints are closed. In this critical juncture, the Odisha government should formulate a scheme in line with the Sanjeevani scheme of the Centre and implement it without delay to provide food to these workers,” BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra said in a message on social media.

He added that the Odisha government has announced it will provide food to these migrant workers, but food is yet to reach them. Worse still, the neighbouring states are not keen on addressing their plight.

“The state government has to take up the matter very seriously about the survival of these workers till the end of the lockdown on April 30 and do the needful at the earliest,” Mohapatra pointed out.