The Hindu Business Line : `Starvation' deaths: Migrants' families to get compensation

THE families of two migrant labourers, who died allegedly from starvation while being engaged by a road construction company here, will get compensation.

The Minister for Labour, Mr Babu Divakaran, announced this to newspersons here on Wednesday after meeting with representatives of the construction companies carrying out road building works in Thiruvananthapuram.

The State Government will ensure that migrant labourers are treated as per the prevailing laws. However, the Minister clarified that the works could not be suspended for long, and would resume sooner than later. The construction company will be asked to strictly abide by the laws and furnish information as and when required by the State Government.

Earlier on Tuesday, the District Collector had directed that civil works for road upkeep/improvement engaging migrant labourers be stopped with temporarily.

Meanwhile, two of the six labourers who have been admitted to Medical College Hospital here have been diagnosed with dengue fever in addition to malaria. All six currently undergoing treatment there are suffering from cerebral malaria.

A bout of malaria and fever had been reported from the labour camps on the outskirts of the city. It was from there that the six labourers were moved first to the Government General Hospital, before being shifted to the Medical College Hospital for expert consultations and treatment.

Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, has asked the Government to expel upcountry agents engaged in supply of contract labour into the State.

Addressing newspersons here, he demanded that workers undergoing treatment at various hospitals should be given all support. Mr Achuthanandan had visited various labour camps in the city, and termed living conditions there as miserable.

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