Interview Times Bhubaneswar: On Sunday,15th August the mortal remains of an Odia transient worker, Simanchala Rout, will be brought to the Biju Patnaik International Airport, and then it will enroute to his local village of the Ganjam district for his final rites.
When 48-year-old Simanchala cleared out his border town of Totagaon, Odisha for Bahrain to earn a living and make ends meet, little did he know that such a catastrophe would come upon him, causing lifelong despondency and torment to his family.
Late Simanchal Rout who worked as a lead Supervisor within the Mechanical Division of the NSH Corporation in Bahrain suffered from a brain stroke due to high blood pressure this year, on the 18th July, in his work camp settlement. Right after this, he fell into a coma in the Salmaniya Medical Complex (Government Hospital) in Bahrain.
He was brave-hearted and fought a tough fight within himself for twenty-one long days while being placed on a life support system until the date he lost his life. He passed away on the 8th of August 2021.
Local authorities and his death certificate confirm Brain Discharge and Hypertension as the cause of his death. His body now rests in the mortuary of the Salmaniya Clinic, Bahrain.
On 28th July 2021, the Founder Chairman of the Bahrain Odia Samaj, and Goodwill Ambassador of Vishva Odisha Dr. Arun Kumar Praharaj was informed by the Honorable Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s Office to look into the matter and provide the whereabouts of the patients as his family was incapable to follow him.
Since then, Dr Arun Praharaj devoted himself to draw the consideration of the nearby administration, the Indian Embassy, and the higher authorities of the Government of India for way better treatment for Simanchala whereas providing moral bolster to the family of the perished. Several Odisha-based individuals and institutions including the families of frontiersmen have expressed gratitude toward Dr Praharaj for this noble act.
Dr Praharaj said: “It is terrible that in spite of our best endeavors we were incapable to spare the life of our fellow Odia brother, but it is unquestionably an eye-opener with respect to the state of migrant workers on foreign soils.”
Dr. Praharaj has been fighting for the welfare and social security of Indians, especially Odia migrant workers for two decades. He said: ‘’our social lives will never be in jeopardy if we support migrant workers and officials working abroad.
I truly believe that service to mankind is service to the Lord.
“Life and death are at the Lord’s mercy, but it is my humble request to the State and Central Governments to consider the following requests to protect migrant worker rights:
1. Immediate formation of an NRI cell at the State level to create a complete database of non-resident Odias and to appoint Honorary Coordinators in each country to help the community when the need arises.
2. Registration of foreign employment contract with State/Central government and Indian Embassy in each country to be made compulsory – it would help track each citizen working abroad and protect their legitimate rights.
3. Indian Embassies abroad must have an appointed Medical advisor or Medical Secretary who shall assume full responsibility of the patient on foreign soils and coordinate with local medical authorities and the employer to provide best possible treatment to the patient under such special circumstances or emergencies.”
Dr Praharaj had appraised challenges confronted by migrant workers abroad and had discussed these issues in detail amid the Mazdoor Divas Celebration of the Government of Odisha on 1st May 2021 (Labour Day) when he was welcomed by the Honourable Minister, Shri Ranendra Pratap Swain to talk on this occasion.
