KOZHIKODE: Kozhikode district collector U.V. Jose has allayed the fears of the migrant labourers over the false propaganda about their safety in the city and said that they would be given adequate protection. He was speaking at a meeting of city police chiefs, other officers and migrant labourers held at the collectorate here on Tuesday in the wake of the malicious propaganda in the social media about the ill- treatment faced by migrant labourers in the city.
Among the 30,000 migrant labourers working in the district, it is reported that nearly 500 have fled to their native places. A large number of people belonging to Mithinapur in West Bengal are said to have gone home. The propaganda was mere rumour, said the collector. "Many workers have left without taking their wages out of fear. We want the existing labourers here to talk to these people and also other families and tell them that they are safe here," he added.
City police commissioner S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said that the migrant labourers can approach any police station in the city with any complaints. They can also meet the police chief in person and their concerns will be sorted out, he said. The collector said the living conditions of the migrant labourers will be inspected. If the employers are found violating rules, strict action will be taken. The district administration has also decided to conduct frequent medical camps for the migrant labourers to monitor their health on a monthly basis after a preliminary investigation. Deputy commissioner of police Merin Joseph, revenue divisional officer Shamin Sebastian and the people's representatives were also present at the meeting.
