‘Living conditions of Odisha workers in city are pathetic’: Odisha FM

SURAT: Odisha’s finance minister Sashi Bhusan Behera has stated that his government will represent the Gujarat government to provide land for constructing workers’ hostel in the Diamond City.


Behera and Odisha’s

Rajya Sabha

MP Prashant Nanda were on a two-day visit to the city since Friday. The visit was planned after the power loom weaving industry leaders had written a letter to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on the plight of Odisha workers rendered jobless due to the problems faced by the industry under the Goods and Service Tax (GST).

Behera visited the power loom clusters and the pockets where Odisha workers are living. Behera was very upset with the living conditions of Odisha workers in the city and he promised the power loom industry leaders that his government will take up the affordable housing for Odisha workers in the city with the Gujarat government.

Talking to media persons at the circuit house on Saturday, Behera said, “The textile sector employs about 7 lakh migrant workers from Odisha. Out of 7 lakh workers, only 1.5 lakh workers have their identity cards. I would urge the power loom industry leaders to provide them identity cards so that they can get the benefits of Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and provident fund (PF) etc.”

“Living condition of Odisha workers is pathetic here. I will strongly represent Odisha CM to take up the issue with the Gujarat government and the Centre,” Behera added.

Leader of power loom weaving industry Ashish Gujarati said, “Migrant workers from Odisha do not want to make identity cards fearing police harassment. We have requested the Odisha finance minister to at least help the workers in getting Aadhar cards and

bank

accounts in their respective hometowns so that we can process the identity cards to extend them benefits under ESI and PF.”

Gujarat added, “We have urged the Odisha FM to take up the 30 per cent capital subsidy issue under technology upgradation fund scheme (TUFS) and the reduction in electricity tariff with the central and state government in order to create more jobs for Odisha workers.”

Check out the Valentine Day 2025 , along with the Valentine’s Day Wishes and Messages.