Radura Naik, just 16,shoulders adult burdens after losing his father,Susanta Kumar Naik,in a workplace accident in Kerala four years ago. Originally from Ekalpur village in Odisha's Kendrapara district,his family had to move to Bhubaneswar, struggling to make ends meet .
Radura left school after Class VIII to work full-time at a two-wheeler garage, earning only ₹2,000 monthly. His mother, Babi Naik, 35, finds work sporadically, but together they barely cover their ₹4,000 monthly rent and utilities.
"We came to Bhubaneswar to survive since there was no work back in our village," Babi said, often finding work only about 15 days a month,earning around ₹500 daily. The family lives in a cramped shack in Champa Pokhari, surrounded by similar makeshift homes.
Radura's three younger siblings, aged 12, 10, and 6, still attend school,but their educational future is shaky. Medical emergencies,like one sister's leg injury costing ₹1,500, strain their finances further. Another daughter has an untreated skin condition due to lack of funds.
Susanta Kumar Naik died on October 26,2022,when a concrete slab fell on him at a demolition site in Maradu,Kerala. Four years later,the family still waits for compensation,caught in ongoing litigation with the Employees’ Compensation Commission in Kerala.
Babi,still in shock from her husband's death, signed documents without understanding them,believing everything would be handled. But promises have fallen flat .
The compensation process drags on, with the Commission for Employee’s Compensation handling it. Minoy James, Ernakulam's District Labour Officer, noted the Labour Department now only submits reports to the commission .
The Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development (CMID) advocates for them, highlighting compensation hurdles. Benoy Peter, CMID’s executive director, said, "We’re following up,but many families lack resources to pursue compensation effectively."
Legal proceedings are hampered by delays in getting documents from the family in Odisha. Bobby Thomas, their counsel, noted issues like improperly submitted documents and distance from Kerala slow the process. "There's one tribunal for multiple districts,limiting hearing frequency," he said.
Radura faces adulthood early, dealing with his father's loss and family responsibilities. future for him and his siblings remains uncertain as they cling to education amidst financial struggles. Babi Naik's fight to provide underscores the harsh reality for families of migrant workers in India…
