Bahrain: Finally, deasesed migrant worker late Debasis Sahoo’s family got compensation from the Kingdom of Bahrain. Thanks for the intervention by the Bahrain Odia Samaj founder Dr. Arun Kumar Praharaj.
The young and energetic 26 years old Debasish Sahoo residing from Chandbali, Kismat, Bijaynagar, Bhadrak, Odisha who came to the land of golden smile Bahrain during 2016 never thought that he would never return to his motherland. He came to the city of Bahrain to earn his daily bread and to repay the loan accumulated for the treatment of his late beloved mother who died due to cancer. However, Dr Arun Kumar Praharaj turned out messiah for late Debasish and his old father once again.
The tragic death of 3 Indian migrant workers including an Odia migrant worker, a few months back was none other than late Shri Debasis Sahoo in Bani Jamra, Bahrain on 16th November 2020. He died in a manhole while carrying out maintenance job on behalf of the Employer -M/S Crown Electromechanical Services Wll.
The matter was seriously taken up with the alleged company by the Indian Embassy in Bahrain. However, it was the efforts of Dr Arun Kumar Praharaj, the Founder Chairman of Bahrain Odia Samaj which made the easy flow of Debasish’s mortal remains to his homeland. He is also a respected resident of Bahrain and noticeable social worker for various causes residing in Bahrain for more than two decades. Moreover, it was due to his exertions that the deceased’s father was able to get the right compensation.
Considering the pathetic financial condition of the deceased’s father Basanta Sahoo as late Debasis Sahoo was the only support for him for the rest of the life, Dr Praharaj had raised this issue vehemently with the Local and Indian authorities and requested the ministry of labour, Kingdom of Bahrain for kind intervention for the delivery of speedy justice to the victim and victim’s family.
Dr Praharaj actively coordinated with the cousin brother Shri Golak Behera, Shri Asis Sahoo & Father Shri Basanta Sahoo of the deceased and arranged all necessary documents to file the claim in Bahrain and arrange to send the mortal remains of late Debasis Sahoo to Odisha. With the consistent efforts of Dr. Praharaj, the Mortal remains of Late Debasis Sahoo was dispatched to Biju Patnaik International Airport which landed at Bhubaneswar Airport by Air India Flight No. AI669 on 27th November 2020.
Dr. Praharaj, who is the CEO of Dadabhai Group Bahrain and Founder Chairman of Bahrain Odia Samaj, inspite of his busy schedules actively followed up the matter with full sincerity to get justice for the poor father of the deceased. After a long-drawn battle of more than 5 months with the employer Crown Electro Mechanical Services company, follow up with Ministry of Labour of Bahrain, Indian Embassy and with the lawyers, finally he got the justice for the family and on 15/04/2021 the company paid Rs.15 Lakhs compensation to his father and with this amount the total compensation transferred to the legal heir Shri Basanta Sahoo’s account amounted to Rs. 21 Lakhs.
Dr Arun Kumar Praharaj thanked His Royal Highness the Prime Minister & Crown Prince of Kingdom of Bahrain and all concerned authorities including Under Secretary of Ministry of Labour Bahrain Mr. Ahmed Al Haiki, Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, CMO Odisha, Indian Ambassador Shri Piyush Srivastava, Second Secretary of Indian Embassy Shri Ravi Shankar Shukla, Dr Sasmit Patra Rajya Sabha MP and Shri Arup Patnaik of Odisha Mo Parivar for their cooperation and support in prompt dispatch of the mortal remains of late Debasis Sahoo to Bhubaneswar.
Dr Praharaj said, he is still working on further amounts for the family from the General Organisation of Social Insurance for which through the lawyer he has arranged to file the claim on 7th April 2021.
He also said, the government of India has to empower their respective embassies with more powers to deal with such situations directly and to protect the rights of Indian migrant workers as many migrants have been repatriated to India without settlement of their legitimate dues by many unscrupulous companies. This issue was raised with external affairs minister Dr. Jaishankar during his visit to Bahrain on 25th November 2020 during his community interaction meeting, said Dr, Praharaj.
