48 brick-kiln workers rescued from Berhampur station

Altogether 48 brick-kiln workers and their families, left high and dry after being asked by their owner to leave due to cyclone Roanu, were rescued by the district administration from Berhampur railway station, a senior official said.
Arrangements are being made to send them back to their native village near Khaprakhol in Bolangir district with their wages, District Labour Officer, Kalpana Mishra said.
The matter first came to light when mediapersons drew the attention of Sub-collector (Berhampur) Laxmi Kanta Sethi to the plight of these labourers, who were camping at Berhampur railway station.
Sethi then asked the district labour officer to look into the problems of the labourers who were rescued yesterday.

The labourers had been working in a brick-kiln near Ichhapur in Andhra Pradesh for the last six months. The kiln owner had stopped the work midway and asked them to go to back to their respective villages after a hailstorm, triggered by cyclone Roanu, lashed the state on Saturday.
He had, however, not paid them their wages.

The labourers left for Berhampur after being ordered by the employer.
"We were stranded at the Berhampur railway station without any money or food since Sunday night," said Kirtana Nayak (45), one of the labourers.
DLO Mishra said "after several attempts, we managed to contact the brick-kiln owner of Ichhapur. He has cleared their dues amounting to Rs 22,000."

"We are in close coordination to ensure their safe journey to their village in Balangir district," she added.
The brick kiln owner had not provided proper shelter, drinking water and food to them, the official said.