The Minister for Labour and Employees’ State Insurance, Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, informed the State Assembly that over the past decade, 403 migrant labourers from Odisha have died while employed in other states.
Responding to BJP Lawmaker Tankadhar Tripathy’s question, the Minister revealed that from 2015 to November 27, 2024, there were 403 reported deaths of Odisha’s migrant workers in other states.
According to the Minister’s statement, Ganjam district saw the highest number of fatalities, with 59 migrant workers dying outside Odisha during this time. Kalahandi district followed, with 39 deaths reported in other states.
Bolangir district, known for high migration rates, witnessed 35 migrant workers’ deaths since 2015.
The Minister also reported deaths from other districts: 32 from Kandhamal, 28 from Rayagada, 18 each from Boudh and Nuapada, 17 from Khurda, 16 from Nabarangpur, and 14 each from Kendrapara & Koraput.
Furthermore, Singkhuntia stated that in 2014, under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act of 1979, the government issued 388 licenses for 26,397 workers migrating from Odisha. In 2024, up to October, 883 licenses were granted to 60,683 workers.
The Labour & ESI Minister announced that a high-level task force, led by Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, was established last October to tackle distress migration in Odisha, operating through the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department.
