Claiming that the BJP government’s “double-engine development” model failed to improve the lives of Odisha’s most vulnerable communities, the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday said the deaths of 15 Juang tribal workers belonging to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu has brought under sharp focus the continuing distress migration from mineral-rich Keonjhar, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s home district.
Despite being one of the country’s richest mineral-producing districts, Keonjhar continues to offer limited livelihood opportunities to its poorest tribal communities, forcing many to migrate to other States in search of work, the opposition party alleged.
Acting on the direction of BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, a party fact-finding team visited the bereaved families in villages under Telkoi, Banspal and Harichandanpur blocks of Keonjhar district to express condolences and assess the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The delegation, led by former Minister and BJD Vice-President Sanjay Dasburma, included former Minister and Ghasipura MLA Badri Narayan Patra, Chandabali MLA Byomkesh Ray, Bhandaripokhari MLA Sanjib Mallick, Anandapur MLA Abhimanyu Sethi and other party leaders.
The team visited Pitanali, Khuntapada, Bimala and Rangamatia villages under Telkoi block; Kodipasa, Talachampei and Talaraidiha villages under Banspal block; and Kharaba, Sunapentha and Rebana villages under Harichandanpur block, where they interacted with the victims’ families.
The workers had migrated to Tamil Nadu after failing to secure employment in their native villages. They were employed in a seafood processing unit where an ammonia gas leak allegedly claimed their lives, BJD leaders reiterated.
Describing the incident as a “dark chapter” in Odisha’s history, Dasburma alleged that the deaths exposed the failure of successive employment initiatives to prevent distress migration among PVTG communities.
“It is tragic that such an incident has occurred in the Chief Minister’s own district,” he said, alleging that no State Minister had visited the victims’ families despite the tragedy.
He also accused the district labour administration of failing to ensure safeguards for migrant workers and said the absence of sustainable local employment had compelled tribal youth to seek work outside the State.
Senior BJD leader Patra termed the incident “deeply condemnable” and alleged that the government’s claims on tribal welfare had failed to bring meaningful improvements in healthcare, education, employment and social security for the Juang community.
The regional party also demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, accountability for those responsible, adequate compensation for the bereaved families and measures to prevent such tragedies in future.