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Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Indian Express
‘Given Rs 600 to split between 8 people': Jharkhand men stranded in UAE with no pay for 3 months'
For Charuman Mahto, the last few weeks have been trying. The company that they are employed with in the United Arab Emirates hasn't paid him in weeks, he doesn't have enough money to afford food and rent and now, he faces the additional threat of homelessness after their landlord has threatened to throw them out. Charuman is among 15 migrant workers from Jharkhand's Hazaribagh and Giridih districts who have been left stranded in Hamim in the outskirts of UAE's Abu Dhabi after their Hyderabad-based utility company stopped paying them three months ago. With no money for rent, utilities or even food, the workers, who were hired to lay transmission lines, have now appealed to the central and state governments here to help them return home. The group went to Abu Dhabi's in January 2024. 'While hiring us two years ago, the contractor, Tirupati Reddy, told us that the company has been working there for over 10 years and is trustworthy,' Charuman, who's previously worked in construction in Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, said. 'The contractor promised to pay us around 1,700 dirhams (approximately Rs 40,000) a month, and we were issued visas and told to pay for flight tickets. We weren't required to pay for rent or electricity, which the company took care of. However, for the past three months, we haven't received any pay.' Calls and texts to contractor Tirupati Reddy and the company's supervisor went unanswered. With the company not paying for rent and utilities, their landlord has cut their water connection and has threatened to evict them from the two-room house they share in Hamim, the workers claim. 'This is the only work we know,' Arjun Mahto, a 28-year-old Bishnugarh, said. 'But these past three months have been extremely difficult. Sometimes, the contractor would give us Rs 600 to divide between eight people. And now the landlord's ultimatum. We even begged him to let us stay a little longer.' 'The heat here is unbearable. We won't be able to live outdoors once we're forced to leave. Our families back home are worried and are waiting for us to return,' another worker, 40-year-old Bishnu Mahto, said, adding: 'Some Bangladeshi workers are helping us in whatever way they can.' The workers eventually got in touch with Sikandar Ali, a migrant rights activist. 'We are constantly following up with the authorities and will continue to urge the government to take immediate action. Everyone is trying to help in their capacity — sending letters, giving updates to the families,' Ali said. Shikha Lakra, head of the Jharkhand's State Migrant Control Room (SMCR) – the migrant helpline under the state's department of labour — said the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) had asked them to look into the issue 'urgently'. 'We are working to bring the workers back safely in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Dubai,' she said. Meanwhile, despite their plight, the migrant workers said they will continue to look for work abroad. 'Foreign companies generally pay well, which helps us save and send money home. We used to send up to 1,400 dirhams and keep the rest with us,' Charuman said. Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
The Print
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Efforts on to bring back migrant workers kidnapped in Niger, in touch with MEA: Jharkhand govt
After being informed about the incident, the State Migrant Control Room contacted the company that employed them, it said. The five workers were kidnapped by armed men on April 25, a statement said. Ranchi, Apr 28 (PTI) The Jharkhand government on Monday said it has intensified efforts to bring back five migrant workers from the state who have been abducted in the West African country of Niger, and was working with the Ministry of External Affairs in the this regard. 'According to the information, all the workers were working in the Telabari area, 25-30 km away from the company site. It was a complete military operation, in which 26 locals and 12 workers from other countries were involved. 12 people have also been reported dead in this incident,' it added. The India embassy in Niger is aware of the incident and taking up the matter with the authorities concerned for the safe and early release of the workers, the statement said. All five workers belong to Dondlo and Mundro villages in Giridih district. Chief Minister Hemant Soren had on Sunday sought External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's intervention after families of the migrant workers reached out to him. These workers, identified as Sanjay Mahto, Faljit Mahto, Raju Mahto, Chandrika Mahto and Uttam Mahto, had gone to work with a power transmission company, according to their families. 'We were not able to contact them. Later, we managed to establish contact with the others working there and came to know that the five labourers, along with a local, were kidnapped. We demand their safe return,' said a resident of the Mundro village. It was not immediately known who was responsible for the alleged abduction of the workers but clashes between the army and terrorists have been reported in a section of Niger. An attack by armed men in western Niger killed 12 soldiers on Friday in an area near the border with Mali and Burkina Faso, which has long been a hotbed of extremist violence, according to the army. PTI NAM SOM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
India Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Efforts intensified to free migrant workers kidnapped in Niger: Jharkhand
The Jharkhand government on Monday said it has intensified efforts to bring back five migrant workers from the state who have been kidnapped in the West African country of Niger, and was working with the Ministry of External Affairs in this five workers were kidnapped by armed men on April 25, a statement being informed about the incident, the State Migrant Control Room contacted the company that employed them, it "According to the information, all the workers were working in the Telabari area, 25-30 km away from the company site. It was a complete military operation, in which 26 locals and 12 workers from other countries were involved. 12 people have also been reported dead in this incident," it Indian embassy in Niger is aware of the incident and taking up the matter with the authorities concerned about the safe and early release of the workers, the statement five workers belong to Dondlo and Mundro villages in Giridih Minister Hemant Soren had on Sunday sought External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's intervention after families of the migrant workers reached out to workers, identified as Sanjay Mahto, Faljit Mahto, Raju Mahto, Chandrika Mahto and Uttam Mahto, had gone to work with a power transmission company, according to their were not able to contact them. Later, we managed to establish contact with the others working there and came to know that the five labourers, along with a local, were kidnapped. We demand their safe return," said a resident of the Mundro was not immediately known who was responsible for the alleged abduction of the workers but clashes between the army and terrorists have been reported in a section of attack by armed men in western Niger killed 12 soldiers on Friday in an area near the border with Mali and Burkina Faso, which has long been a hotbed of extremist violence, according to the army.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In touch with MEA to bring back migrant workers kidnapped in Africa: State govt
1 2 Ranchi: At the directives of chief minister Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand govt on Monday moved to ensure safe return of five migrant workers of Giridih district who were abducted in west African nation Niger where they went to work with a power transmission company. Soren has also sought the external affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar's intervention for the safe return of the abducted workers. "Union External Affairs Minister, Honourable @Dr S Jaishankar Ji is requested to please provide help to our migrant brothers from Jharkhand who have been kidnapped in Niger as per information," Soren posted on X. On April 25 (Friday), the five workers were kidnapped by some armed individuals, and since the abduction, their whereabouts have not been known, causing concern among their families. Two days later, former Bagodar MLA Vinod Kumar Singh informed the state migrant control room about the kidnapping and disappearance of five migrant workers from the villages of Dondlo and Mundro, both under Bagodar police station in Giridih. Mentioning the names of the migrant workers and their passports, a request was made for prompt and safe return action. All the abducted workers were employed in the transmission project of a company working in the transmission line sector in Niger. "The state migrant control room promptly contacted the project head /country manager of the company to obtain updated information about the incident. According to the information, all the workers were employed in the Telabari area, 25–30 km away from the company site. It was entirely a military operation, involving a total of 26 local and 12 workers from other countries. Reports indicate that 12 people have died in this incident," the state govt said in statement on Monday. "The local company, the governor's office, the Indian ambassador, and the Indian embassy are actively working on this matter. The State Migrant Control Room verified the case on April 28 and sent an email to the Protector of Emigrants, Ranchi, the Indian embassy, and the Ministry of External Affairs, requesting immediate action for the safe return of the five workers as a priority," the state govt said. "Today, the Indian embassy and the company once again held discussion on the matter with the state migrant control room. It was informed through email that the Indian embassy in Niger is aware of the unfortunate incident and is addressing the matter with the relevant Niger authorities to ensure the safe and prompt release of the citizens," the statement said.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Efforts on to bring back migrant workers kidnapped in Niger, in touch with MEA: Jharkhand govt
Ranchi, The Jharkhand government on Monday said it has intensified efforts to bring back five migrant workers from the state who have been abducted in the West African country of Niger, and was working with the Ministry of External Affairs in the this regard. The five workers were kidnapped by armed men on April 25, a statement said. After being informed about the incident, the State Migrant Control Room contacted the company that employed them, it said. "According to the information, all the workers were working in the Telabari area, 25-30 km away from the company site. It was a complete military operation, in which 26 locals and 12 workers from other countries were involved. 12 people have also been reported dead in this incident," it added. The India embassy in Niger is aware of the incident and taking up the matter with the authorities concerned for the safe and early release of the workers, the statement said. All five workers belong to Dondlo and Mundro villages in Giridih district. Chief Minister Hemant Soren had on Sunday sought External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's intervention after families of the migrant workers reached out to him. These workers, identified as Sanjay Mahto, Faljit Mahto, Raju Mahto, Chandrika Mahto and Uttam Mahto, had gone to work with a power transmission company, according to their families. "We were not able to contact them. Later, we managed to establish contact with the others working there and came to know that the five labourers, along with a local, were kidnapped. We demand their safe return," said a resident of the Mundro village. It was not immediately known who was responsible for the alleged abduction of the workers but clashes between the army and terrorists have been reported in a section of Niger. An attack by armed men in western Niger killed 12 soldiers on Friday in an area near the border with Mali and Burkina Faso, which has long been a hotbed of extremist violence, according to the army.
