Bhubaneswar, Sep 3 (IANS): Odisha Wednesday launched a helpline for its migrant workers after reports of their torture and exploitation in recent months.

State Labour and Employment Minister Prafulla Mallick who launched the service here said any worker staying in the state or outside can now call at the toll-free helpline number 155368 and can lodge complaints and grievances.

Every year, thousands of workers from districts like Nuapada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Rayagada and Bolangir migrate to other states in search of jobs. They are often exploited by middlemen and labour contractors.

A labour contractor and his henchmen allegedly chopped off the hands of two migrant workers in Odisha in December 2013 after they refused to work in a brick kiln in Chhattisgarh.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the Supreme Court in July had slammed the state government for turning a blind eye to the problems of migrant workers.