Nineteen migrant workers from Jharkhand&rsquo;s Bokaro and Hazaribagh districts are stranded in Cameroon, West Africa, and have issued urgent appeals to the central and state governments for immediate repatriation.
The workers, who travelled through a private agency for jobs in electricity transmission, allege that they have not been paid for the past four months.
In videos shared on social media, they described their worsening condition, saying they are struggling to afford food, water, and basic necessities.
&ldquo;We are surviving on handouts. If anyone falls ill, we can&rsquo;t even afford treatment,&rdquo; one of them said.
Those stranded include Prem Tudu, Sibon Tudu, Somar Besra, Puran Tudu, Ramji Hansada, Virwa Hansda, Mahendra Hansda, and Bablu Soren from Bokaro; and Aghnu Soren, Ashok Soren, Chetlal Soren, Mahesh Marandi, Ramji Marandi, Lalchand Murmu, Phoolchand Murmu, Budhan Murmu, Jiblal Manjhi, Chhotan Baske, and Rajendra Kisku from Hazaribagh.
Social activist Sikandar Ali, who works on migrant labour issues, has urged the government to take immediate diplomatic measures to secure their safe return.
He noted that this is not an isolated case, citing past incidents where Jharkhand labourers, lured by promises of high wages abroad, ended up trapped in exploitative conditions, requiring long negotiations for their release.
Ali also stressed the need to create more employment opportunities within Jharkhand to reduce forced migration.
&ldquo;Without sufficient jobs here, workers will continue to risk their lives and livelihoods overseas,&rdquo; he said.
Earlier, five migrant workers from Jharkhand were kidnapped in Niger, another West African nation, and remain missing. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

19 Jharkhand workers stranded in Cameroon

Unpaid for months, migrant workers urge urgent govt action for safe return home

19 Jharkhand workers stranded in Cameroon

Unpaid for months, migrant workers urge urgent govt action for safe return home

August 14, 2025 | 18:13 IST