INDIAN MISSION TAKING OVER DEATH OF ODIA WORKER

Indian Mission taking action over death of Odia worker in Sri Lanka says Vayalar Ravi 23/05/2012

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,BUREAU CHIEF,ODISHA
INDINO/THESE DAYS NEWS SERVICE:

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi says Sri Lankan firm to pay Rs. 5 lakh as compensation to family of deceased Odia worker Manas Mallick. In a reply to the letter of Odisha MP Ramachandra Khuntia, Minister Ravi said that "Our mission in Colombo was asked to take appropriate necessary action in the matter."


Minister Ravi in his reply said that the Mission’s consular officials have been in touch with concerned agencies to ensure fair and proper investigation, redressal of immediate grievances, mediate for grant of compensation by the company, repatriation of mortal remains, etc.


It should be noted that an Odia worker Manas Mallick was killed in an accident at a steel plant in Sri Lanka on May 8. Manas Mallick (30), son of Balaram Mallick of Jajpur's Barapada village. He was working as an assistant fitter at ConFab steel private limited in Muddaragama.


He further written that, "All required formalities have since been completed to transport the mortal remains of late Mallick to India on 15“ May, 2012. The two brothers of the deceased who are also working in M/s C0nFab Steels will also be sent from Colombo on the same day, so as to position themselves to receive the mortal remains at the Bhubaneswar airport on the following day. The company’s management has also informed the Mission that they are awaiting necessary clearances from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to pay a compensation of INR 5 lakhs directly to the bank account of the next of kin of the deceased. This would be in addition to the compensation payable by the insurance company, as stipulated in the agreement signed between the employee and the company. We are given to understand that this amount is likely to be about Sri Lankan Rs. 3 takhs, although payment could take close to a month, pending completion of formalities by the insurance company."


Ravi in his letter further ascertains that, "As regards the issue of ill treatment of Indian workers by the company, we have seized of the matter. With a view to address the serious shortcomings in the manner in which the managements was running the company (including unsatisfactory and unsafe working conditions), measures like placing of the company in the ‘Prior Approval Category’ (PAC) List was taken. It has been noticed that Indian workers enter Sri Lanka on Tourist or Entry visas, and subsequently regularize their visa status for employment, with the help of the company. Specific grievances/complaints by Indian workers are taken up with the company regularly for its redressal. Since 2010, the Mission has assisted in successful repatriation of 52 aggrieved workers from M/s Bhuwalka Steel (Sri Lanka) Ltd. and ConFab Steel (Pvt.) Ltd. the two companies in Sri Lanka. Between the two of them, they employ about 300 Indian workers."