CPIML legislative party leader Mahboob Alam said on 5 February 2022 that the death of 5 migrant workers from Barsoi Block (Katihar District) is extremely tragic and painful. He visited the villages of the workers and consoled the family members. He also met the kin of the injured workers. He is in constant contact with the administration.
He said that such incidents are not a new occurrence, but the Delhi and Patna governments remain oblivious. Earlier also migrant workers have died on several occasions. How long will the Bihar government run away from the hard reality of migration? Nitish Kumar keeps saying that workers are going out either because it is their desire or because they want to do tourism. Will Nitish Kumar open his eyes at least after this painful incident in Pune? Or will he continue to say the same thing to workers who are forced to go out of Bihar and work in hellish situations to make ends meet? The government has announced Rs 2 lakhs as compensation to the victims' families. This is rubbing salt into their wounds. We demand at least Rs 20 lakhs as compensation for the families and arrangements for proper medical treatment for the injured.
He said that during the Lockdown the whole country witnessed the truth of migrant workers from Bihar. A national-level law for the safety and security of migrant workers has been a long-standing demand but the Modi government has not heeded it in its 8 years in power. This government has left workers to live or die as the fates dictate. What is this if not sheer criminal negligence on the part of the government towards the working class? The Central and Bihar governments must take responsibility for this.
State-level laws are in place but have become ineffective. The Bihar government should take immediate steps for the safety and security of migrant workers. During the Corona period the government had said that employment would be made available within Bihar for migrant workers. We want to know what has become of that announcement by the government.
Strict action needs to be taken against the managers of the under-construction mall in Pune, as they were putting the workers' lives at risk in the way they were made to do the construction work. A 10,000 ton slab was being constructed without any concrete support with just a rod frame as base, which broke and caused this tragedy.
Mahboob Alam also questioned the Maharashtra government how permission is given to companies for such construction work that puts the workers' lives at risk. Such companies must be blacklisted and strict action taken against them.
The CPIML legislative party leader visited the villages of victims Major Alam and Mobin Alam which fall in his Assembly constituency. He said that during the Assembly session the government will be taken to task on this issue.
