Bokaro: Twenty-seven workers hailing from Bokaro, Hazaribagh, and Giridih districts find themselves stranded in Cameroon, South Africa, pleading for their return home. The workers, facing severe hardships including unpaid wages for the past four months, have turned to social media to amplify their plea.
Social worker Sikandar Ali, known for his advocacy for migrant workers, highlighted the plight of these individuals, emphasizing their dire situation with limited access to food and basic necessities. Videos shared on social media by the workers vividly depict their struggles and implore the government’s intervention for their safe return to Jharkhand, along with the settlement of their pending wages.
Expressing concern, Sikandar Ali called upon both central and state governments to initiate robust diplomatic efforts to ensure the workers’ safe repatriation. He underscored that this isn’t an isolated incident, citing previous instances where migrant workers faced similar challenges abroad in pursuit of better opportunities, only to endure hardships before returning home.
The stranded workers includes Mohan Mahato, Degalal Mahato, Govind Mahato, Churaman Mahato, Jagdish Mahato, Murari Mahato, Lakhiram, Pusan Mahato from Kadrukhuta (under Penk Narayanpur police station, Bokaro district); Kamlesh Kumar Mahato, Mahesh Kumar Mahato, Damodar Mahato, Mukund Kumar Nayak, Narayanpur Parmeshwar Mahato, Ghawaiya Anu Mahato, Dhaneshwar Mahato, Ralibeda Sital Mahato, Kuldeep Hansda; Sukar Mahato (Chichki, Giridih district); Ramesh Mahato, Vijay Kumar Mahato (Atki, Dumri police station, Giridih district); Daulat Kumar Mahato (Dudhpaniya); Bisun (Achaljamu), Teklal Mahato (Jobar), Chhatradhari Mahato (Kharna), Bhikhan Mahato, Chintaman Mahato (Chano, Bishnugarh police station, Hazaribagh district).
The appeal from these stranded workers underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to safeguard migrant workers’ interests and provide sustainable employment opportunities within the state to deter future migrations abroad.