Labourers from Odisha in Surat gather to demand nod for travel to native places

Surat: Hundreds of laborers who are mainly from Eastern Indian state Odisha gathered today evening at Laskana main road of Surat and staged protest demanding nod for journey to their native state.

Odisha has extended lockdown period to 1st of May. It appears, Odisha origin labourers who believe they are stuck in Surat due to lockdown, ran out of their patience, thinking that they will need to continue to stay in Surat for few more weeks.

Laskana has numerous looms and embroidery units. Workers in these units are from Eastern Indian states, mainly Odisha.

Workers believe they are stuck in Surat and they should be permitted to go to their native states as industrial units are non-operational and relatives in native places are worried about their well being.

The Government has put ban on intra and inter-state passenger transportation in order to achieve successful lockdown with intention to curb Coronavirus spread. Buses, trains and flights are not operating during 21-day lockdown period.

Recently, the government has given indications that lockdown period may extend beyond 21-day period.

Protesting laborers burnt tyres and some vegetable carts on the road to convey their demand. They also stopped a police vehicle.

Laskana – Diamondnagar has witnessed protests and strikes by Odisha origin weavers in recent past over pay hike demand.

In unrelated story, hundreds of construction workers and labourers working at Dream City project of diamond bourse in Khajod area of Surat ransacked a shop and created ruckus demanding proper food and water facilities on site or permission to return to native places. The workers complained that sufficient food and other facilities were not available to them at this construction site. Police reached the spot in order to cool them down and find a way to resolve their issues.

DeshGujarat