Initiate steps to bring back workers from Uganda

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation V Ravi to initiate steps for the safe and early return of eleven labourers of Odisha from Uganda.In a letter to the Union Minister, Naveen requested him to take up the matter with the Ugandan Government through the Indian embassy for the return of the labourers. Earlier, the Chief Minister had written a letter on October 25.The labour and employment commissioner of Odisha had also written to Protector General of Immigrants to initiate steps for the rescue of the labourers.The Chief Minister said Kalinga Moulders, a Bhubaneswar based organisation, had sent the labourers to Uganda after signing an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with World Metals Limited promising them a high salary and to provide them other facilities. But the labourers were reportedly being tortured, kept in an unhygenic environment in that country and deprived of minimum basic facilities, he said.