Juang Primitive Tribal Community Members Return as Dead Bodies After Migrating for Work
BJD Delegation Visits Keonjhar and Meets the Bereaved Families
Bhubaneswar, 09/07/2026:While the Double Engine Government continues to beat the drum of development, the Primitive Tribal Communities in the Chief Minister’s own district are suffering from the tragedy of distress migration. Fifteen members of the Juang Primitive Tribal Community from various villages under Telkoi, Banspal and Harichandanpur Blocks of Keonjhar district had migrated to Tamil Nadu in search of employment and met with a tragic death.
Under the direction of BijuJanata Dal President and Leader of Opposition Shri Naveen Patnaik, a BJD delegation visited the district to assess the incident and met the bereaved family members. The delegation was led by former Minister and BJD Senior Vice-President Shri Sanjay Das Burma. The committee comprised former Minister and Ghasipura MLA Shri Badri Narayan Patra, Chandabali MLA Shri Byomkesh Ray, Bhandaripokhari MLA Shri SanjibMallik, Anandapur MLA Shri AbhimanyuSethi, Soro MLA Shri MadhabDhada, former MP Shri MadhabSardar, former MLA Shri Dhanurjaya Sidhu, former MLA Shri JagannathNayak, Mayurbhanj-II District President DrDebashishMarndi, Keonjhar BJD MLA candidate Smt. MeenaMajhi, Keonjhar District BJD President Shri Ashish Chakraborty, Keonjhar District BJD Senior Vice-President Shri BijayMohanty, among others. They expressed their condolences to the bereaved families and held detailed discussions regarding the incident.
The deceased had migrated to Tamil Nadu as migrant labourers after failing to find employment in their local areas. They were working in a seafood processing (shrimp processing) company where they lost their lives following an ammonia gas leak.
BJD President and Leader of Opposition Shri Naveen Patnaik has expressed deep anguish over this tragic incident and deputed the committee to conduct a detailed inquiry. The delegation visited Pitanali, Khuntapada, Bimala and Rangamatia villages under Telkoi Block; Kodipasa, Talachampei and Talaraidiha villages under Banspal Block; and Kharaba, Sunapentha and Rebana villages under Harichandanpur Block of Keonjhar district. The delegation interacted extensively with the family members of the deceased.
BJD Senior Vice-President Shri Sanjay Das Burma said that this is an extremely tragic incident and will remain a blot on the State. He alleged that such shameful incidents are repeatedly occurring in the Chief Minister’s own district because of the failures of the BJP Government. A few months ago, the incident in which a skeletal body had to be carried to a bank in Keonjhar district drew nationwide condemnation. Now another such tragic incident has taken place, raising serious questions over the capability of the BJP Government.
He further stated that despite such a tragic incident, not a single Minister of the State Government has visited the affected villages to express condolences. Despite the existence of several assured employment schemes, members of the Primitive Tribal Community are being forced to migrate in search of work. Although the Chief Minister himself belongs to a tribal community, the tribal people of his own district remain neglected today.
He further alleged that, without the knowledge of the deceased workers, their daughters have also been trafficked as migrant labourers. The District Labour Officer was fully aware of the situation but chose to remain a silent spectator. During the last two years of the BJP Government, all developmental activities have virtually come to a standstill. Consequently, people were forced to migrate outside the State in search of livelihood and have returned only as dead bodies. Due to the negligence of the BJP Government, the Primitive Tribal Communities have remained excluded from the mainstream of development.
MLA Shri Badri Narayan Patra stated that the incident is not merely condemnable for Odisha but for the entire country. He alleged that while the BJP Government is making false propaganda regarding the development of Primitive Tribal Communities, the reality is that they are being forced to migrate outside the State for work. The fact that this has happened in the Chief Minister’s own district is highly condemnable. He further alleged that the Government has not spent even a single rupee specifically for the welfare of the Juang Tribe. As a result, the Juang community remains neglected in every sphere including health, education, employment, livelihood and social security.
The delegation also examined which departments and officials were responsible for the incident, the failures of the Government, and the measures required to prevent such incidents from recurring in future. It stated that the tragic deaths are the direct consequence of the failures of the Double Engine Government. This is not merely the sorrow of a few families but a symbol of the State Government’s failure in providing employment and ensuring tribal development.
While the Double Engine Government remains busy celebrating its second anniversary through publicity campaigns, it has completely failed to generate local employment opportunities in tribal regions and to ensure the safety, dignity and sustainable livelihood of tribal women. Had adequate employment opportunities been available within Odisha, tribal people would not have been compelled to migrate outside the State as migrant labourers. This tragedy presents a stark picture of the BJP Government’s failure to prevent distress migration.
Even today, tribal youth are compelled to leave Odisha in search of livelihood, and the consequences of such neglect are costing them their lives. Therefore, the BijuJanata Dal has demanded justice for all the affected families, adequate compensation, and necessary protection and support. The lives of poor and innocent tribal people cannot continue to be treated with such neglect.
The delegation held detailed discussions with the bereaved families, and the committee will submit its comprehensive report to BijuJanata Dal President Shri Naveen Patnaik.
