Bhubaneswar, Dec 3: As many as 432 migrant workers from Odisha have died between 2019 and 2025, Minister of Labour & ESI Department Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed in a written reply on Wednesday.

The Minister stated that the state government has been facilitating the return of the bodies of workers who die in other states, bearing transportation responsibilities in each case. The government is also providing financial assistance to the families of the deceased.

According to official data, 14 migrant-worker–dominated districts have received assistance of up to Rs 15 lakh, while another 16 districts have been provided up to Rs 5 lakh towards such support.

The sharp rise in deaths of migrant workers has once again brought the spotlight on labour safety, monitoring mechanisms in destination states, and the need for stronger migrant welfare systems.

In a separate discussion, the Odisha government told the Assembly that no procurement token was wasted this year, unlike the BJD regime, when nearly four lakh farmers could not sell their paddy under the previous government. Replying to a question raised by MLA Sidhant Mohapatra, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that while 17,73,347 farmers registered in 2023–24, only 13,36,118 could sell paddy.

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This year, farmer registration has increased to 19,76,812, the Minister said, adding that the government has already issued 2,94,569 tokens for Kharif procurement, completing token distribution in districts such as Bargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Sambalpur. He also noted that Rs 5,876 crore has been provided as input assistance to farmers. “With the new government taking charge, both registration and procurement have improved significantly,” he said. A ministerial-level committee has been formed and each district has been assigned to a Minister for smooth operations, he added.