HAZARIBAG: Twenty out of the 36 workers from the state stranded in Tajikistan since October 22 last year have
returned to their native places. These include the two who returned on February 19. The remaining 16 are still stranded as their papers are yet to be prepared by Tajikistan
authorities.
Officials said most of the stranded workers are from Bishnugarh, Bagodar, Saria and Bokaro localities. Currently, the Indian embassy there and the Jharkhand government are working together to get the papers ready, the state minister for labour and employment, Satyanand Bhokta, told TOI.
The labourers reached New Delhi from the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe. They proceeded to their native places by trains and buses provided by the Centre.
Baleshwar Mahato of Bishnugarh block, Mahendra Mahto of Saru Kudar panchayat, and Tufaman Mahto thanked the ministry of external affairs and the state government for facilitating their safe return and reuniting them with their families before Holi. Earlier, they were lured by middlemen from other states with handsome salaries to work in a Tajikistan power transmission line-laying company.
The workers said they had to spend days without food and proper accommodation. “Our bodies were paralysed due to the severe cold and we did not receive a single paise as salary. Even our passports and other documents, including visa, were seized by the company management,” they said.
Source: Times of India
