Worker’s death sparks protest over compensation

Keonjhar: Protesting family members of a dead worker sat in front of a sponge iron plant located in Palaspanga under Sadar police station area limits here on Monday, demanding compensation. The worker died on Sunday while on duty.The labourer was identified as Sunaram Munda (45) of Kendua village under Baria police station limits. He was working under a labour contractor at the plant. According to Sunaram’s family members, he had gone to work on Sunday. Around 10 am, he suddenly fell ill while eating in the factory canteen. Later, factory officials took him to the Keonjhar district headquarters hospital, where a doctor declared him dead. In this regard, officers from Sadar police station recovered the body and after an autopsy, handed the body over to the family.Police said the family instead of taking the body home, kept it in front of the factory gate, demanding compensation all night. After more than 12 hours and negotiations around 2 pm, they took the body home. “Since Sunaram died inside the factory after falling ill, we demand compensation for his death, as no other family member is employed," said a relative.“After promising them compensation of Rs 2 lakh and a job for a family member, they agreed to take the body home,” said Amit Kumar Bhuyan, IIC Sadar police station.Ashok Das, a senior advocate, said it was the responsibility of the authorities to regularly provide healthcare and safety to the workers in the factory. Therefore, the circumstances under which a worker died are subject to investigation.”