Riyan.Ramanath@timesofindia.comBhubaneswar: A total of 388 migrant workers from Odisha died while working outside the state during 2024-25 and 2025-26, while the state govt successfully rescued and brought back 2,890 distressed labourers during the same period, labour minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the assembly on Tuesday.In a written reply to a question by Aul MLA Pratap Keshari Deb, the minister provided details on migrant worker deaths, rescue operations and compensation paid to affected families. The data also revealed that 40 Odia migrants died in foreign countries, while 203 workers stranded abroad were rescued and safely repatriated with govt assistance.The minister said the state govt paid a total compensation of Rs 3.58 crore to the families of 388 migrant workers who died outside Odisha. The assistance was extended through compensation mechanisms available for migrant labourers.The figures underscored the continuing scale of labour migration from Odisha, particularly from economically vulnerable districts. Balangir district accounted for the highest number of rescued migrants at 1,515, followed by neighbouring Nuapada district with 503 rescues. Both districts have long been recognised as migration hotspots, with thousands of workers travelling seasonally to southern states to work in brick kilns and other labour-intensive sectors.Officials said the Balangir-Nuapada belt continues to witness large-scale migration of brick kiln workers who leave their villages in search of livelihood opportunities during the agricultural lean season.In contrast, no migrant rescue cases were reported from Malkangiri, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Deogarh and Bhadrak during the period under review.To strengthen intervention in migration-prone regions, the state govt has provided Rs 10 lakh each to collectors of 14 migration-prone districts. The funds are being used for rescue operations, transportation of stranded workers, emergency assistance and compensation-related support.
