Sonu Sood helps 167 migrant workers go home to Odisha

Special flight arranged for labourers from Kochi.

Over 160 migrant workers from Odisha have returned to their home towns by a special flight, thanks to actor Sonu Sood.

An Air Asia flight to Bhubaneswar with 167 passengers took off from the Cochin International Aiport at 8 a.m. on Friday.

Liza Mohanty, from Kendrapara, said that she along with 147 other women who used to work at a textile factory at Kizhakkambalam in the district, were desperate to return home after the lockdown was imposed. She said the women had resigned around 20 days ago after they had not received salaries for April. But the wait for trains had only worsened their ordeal, she said, adding that she was glad to be back home with her father and brother.

The women were from Sonepur, Jajpur, Balasore and Kendrapara in Odisha, said Ms. Mohanty who arrived to work in Ernakulam seven months ago. The others on the flight were workers in other parts of Ernakulam, she added.

Mr. Sood, who has been helping migrant workers get back home, said he had been alerted on social media about the situation of the women at the textile factory. “We coordinated with government officials and police in both States and permission was obtained from Odisha for their return,” he said.

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The workers were transported in buses from Kizhakkambalam to the airport and buses were arranged from the airport at Bhubaneswar as well to take them to their homes.