A farmer looks at his destroyed betel vineyard at the proposed Posco plant site near Dhinkia in Jagatsinghpur on Friday. (PTI)

Paradip, June 17: Rendered jobless following the dismantling of betel vineyards, life has become tough for workers engaged in betel plantations in the proposed Posco project areas. The situation has triggered an exodus of these human resources.

Those who owned the betel vines have come under the compensation package. But these workers are in the lurch because have been denied a subsistence package announced earlier by the state government.

Deprived of daily wage following the demolition of the betel vines, these labourers have begun to migrate to areas in and around Paradip for search of work in factories, plants and construction companies. The 699 betel vines demolished by administration for land acquisition process since May 18 had provided engagement to nearly 2,000 labourers.

“The betel vine owners have at least got the compensation. But these workers have got absolutely nothing,” said Nirvaya Samantaray, secretary of United Action Committee (UAC), an outfit that favours the mega steel venture.

“Our outfit had taken up the cause of betel vines workers and staged a protest against land acquisition. We had sought for instant compensation to these labourers at the spot of the betel vineyard acquisition. But we are optimistic that the state government would soon compensate them as it has been committed by officials,” said UAC president Anadi Charan Rout.

“We are searching for an alternative source of livelihood. Some of us are lucky and have got work in Paradip but the majority is yet to get engaged,” said Saroj Kanta Sutar, a betel vineyard worker from Nuagaon village.

“We were entitled to get Rs 2,250 compensatory allowance for the loss of work. But now we have been told that there would be a delay in the payment,” said Kalindi Behera, who out of work after the betel vineyard he worked in was acquired by the government.

“I was getting four to five months’ employment in the betel farms. I used to fish in the sea the rest of the time. I have been fishing for the past one week. I requested a boat owner and he agreed to employ me. I am paid according to the catch,” said Behera, who is now based in Noliasahi village.

Behera did not have much problem in finding a fishing job because of his previous experience. But others like Rabi Dalei have not been so lucky. He has not been able to take up fishing due to a respiratory disorder, Behera said.

“After we receive directions from the higher-ups, compensatory grants would be disbursed to the affected labourers. We hope things will materialise soon,” said Erasama block development officer Muralidhar Swain.

The exact number of betel field labourers who lost their income source following land acquisition is yet to be ascertained. Ground-level revenue employees are being asked to enumerate them. Later, the local palli sabha would ratify it before the Rs 2,250 subsistence allowance is distributed, added Swain.