Kendrapara, May 14: A batch of skilled workers from Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts are stranded in the island nation of Sri Lanka and undergoing a harrowing ordeal there.

Being held captive by their employers, the workers are crying for freedom in the neighbouring country.

At least 30 skilled labourers from Rajnagar and Rajkanika tehsils of Kendrapara district and Erasama tehsil of Jagatsinghpur district have reportedly remained confined in Colombo, where they were working for a mini-steel plant project.

"The demand for higher wages by the Odia workers had allegedly prompted the authorities of the Sri Lankan company to physically and mentally harass them. The family members of the workers have informed us about their plight. The administration has taken up the matter with the higher authorities to ensure the safe return of the stranded workers," said Rajnagar tehsildar Khirod Kumar Behera.

"The migrant workers are held captive by their employers. My cousin Ramakant Rout is one of them. He had informed us about his plight over the phone a couple of days ago," said Sushil Rout, relative of a stranded worker.

"Since then, we have been trying to get in touch with him, but in vain. His mobile phone is switched off. The migrant workers had raised voice against the low wages. It had cost them dear. All of them were beaten up by the employer's henchmen for rising up against the management," Rout added.

"We have already taken up the matter with the state labour directorate. Efforts are on to ensure their return through the overseas wing of the Union external affairs ministry," said Kendrapara district collector Debraj Senapati.

District labour officer Satya Narayan Acharya said: "The problem lies in the fact that migrant overseas workers do not come under the Interstate Migrant Workmen Act, 1979. We have no administrative control over such things. The immigration wing of the Union external affairs ministry will have to deal with it."

"The district administration has already begun to carry out a comprehensive survey of skilled workers who have migrated overseas in search of livelihood. Our conservative estimate puts the migrant workers' figure at 18,000 to 20,000," Acharya said.

The vulnerability of Kendrapara's overseas workers had been exposed several times in the past. The overseas migrant workers often encounter harrowing ordeals in foreign countries.

Visa-related technicalities often reduce them to illegal immigrants. Besides, recurring disturbances in the Gulf countries compound their cup of woes.