Five Jharkhand Workers Stranded in Cameroon Appeal for Urgent Repatriation

Hazaribagh/Ranchi: A distressing situation has emerged for five migrant workers from Jharkhand, who are currently stranded in Cameroon, Africa. The workers hail from Hazaribagh and Giridih districts and have not been paid for their labor, leaving them in severe hardship for food, shelter, and basic necessities.

Identities of the Stranded Workers
The stranded workers include Sunil Mahto, Sukar Mahto, Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Deelo Mahto from Vishnugarh (Unchaghna) in Hazaribagh, and Dilchand Mahto from Dumri in Giridih.

Workers Claim Non-Payment of Wages
According to the workers, the company they were employed with has failed to pay their wages. In a video message, the workers highlighted their plight and appealed to the Indian government for immediate repatriation.

Social Activist Seeks Government Intervention
Social worker Sikandar Ali, who works for the welfare of migrant laborers, urged both the central and state governments to ensure the safe and prompt return of these workers. Ali highlighted that this is not the first incident, recalling earlier cases where migrant workers went abroad lured by higher earnings and faced severe difficulties before being brought back home safely.

Recent Context
Earlier this month, the government facilitated the return of 48 workers stranded in Tunisia. However, other Jharkhand migrant workers remain in precarious situations. For instance, five abducted laborers from Bagodar, Giridih, have been held in Niger for nearly seven months, and the body of Vijay Kumar Mahto from Dumri, Giridih, remains in Saudi Arabia for over a month, awaiting repatriation.

The plight of these stranded workers underscores the urgent need for government action to safeguard the rights and welfare of migrant laborers abroad.