Sundargarh: Allegations of abuse and exploitation have surfaced as 90 girls from Sundargarh, Odisha, are reportedly being tortured in a garment factory in Kotiyar, Tamil Nadu, under the guise of a Skill Development Scheme. The Koshal Samaj has called for a Sundargarh bandh on the 22nd January 2025, demanding the immediate rescue of these girls.
The Allegations
The girls, hailing from various panchayats in Lefripada block, were initially sent to a training center in Cuttack under the guise of computer training. After 45 days, they were moved to a garment manufacturing company in Tamil Nadu without informing their guardians. Allegedly, the girls were:
- Forced to work 8–10 hours daily, even when unwell.
- Beaten and threatened when they expressed a desire to return home.
- Subjected to obscene verbal abuse for minor mistakes.
- Parents’ Protest and Administrative Response
Angered by these revelations, the girls’ guardians, led by Koshal Samaj General Secretary Dilip Kumar Panda, submitted a protest letter to Additional District Magistrate Ravinarayan Sahu on January 15th.
For over a week, parents staged a sit-in outside the District Magistrate’s office, demanding the safe return of their daughters. The State Skill Development Additional Director eventually intervened, instructing divisional officers to ensure the girls’ return.
Why Has This Sparked Outrage?
- Betrayal of Trust: Parents claim the scheme has betrayed their trust when they did not ask but had their daughters transferred to a factory.
- Inhumane Acts: The community has aghast the charges of forced labor as well as neglect and abuse.
- Takes a While: Despite multiple grievances, the authorities are struggling to have the girls come back.
What’s Next?
The Sundargarh bandh on January 22nd is expected to bring the district to a standstill, with demands for:
- A thorough investigation into the Skill Development Scheme’s operations.
- Repatriation of all 90 girls in Tamil Nadu forthwith would be- a popular measure.
- The garment company and the scheme administrator connected with the said garments should be sent behind bars.
Conclusion
When the united front in Sundargarh will be protesting against the incident, the skill development strategy being followed in India has come under a shadow. The question here is whether such schemes are dignifying the youth or it’s about exploiting them being painted as an opportunity. Time alone will answer many questions, but it is clear now that Sundargarh wants the truth-and-justice.
