Fear of an uncertain future looms large over the migrant workers of Madhya Pradesh who have returned home after facing immense hardships amidst the lockdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As high as 91.2 per cent of these migrants are apprehensive that they will not find employment soon enough and face livelihood crisis. Yet about 54.6 per cent do not want to migrate back for work, a rapid survey conducted among returning migrants by NGO Vikas Samvad suggests. Another 24.5 per cent are indecisive and say that if they get local livelihood opportunities, they will not migrate again.
The survey was conducted in 10 districts of the state, covering an average of 30 returned migrants in each district (total 310 returnees) during the first fortnight of May. The survey indicates deep apprehensions amongst the migrant workers about their future.
Apart from uncertainties over livelihood, over 82 per cent of them fear that they will be caught in a debt trap and 76.5 per cent believe that there will be a situation of widespread hunger in the near future. As high as 81 per cent feel that lack of medical treatment facilities is in the offing due to the COVID-19 crisis and their own economic situation.
About 53.5 per cent are also worried that they may have to resort to distress selling of their land and household items and that the women may have to sell off their jewellery.
Their dire economic condition could be gauged by the fact that 23 per cent of the returning migrant labourers were left with an amount of less than Rs 100 when they finally reached home whilst 7 per cent did not even have a rupee with them. About one-fourth (25.2 per cent) workers had money ranging from Rs 101 to Rs 500 while 18.1 per cent were left with an amount between Rs 501 to Rs 1,000. Only 11 per cent labourers had cash of more than Rs 2,000 upon reaching home.
Sachin Jain of Vikas Samvad said that the survey was important as there is no functional data or details on the migrant labourers or the reason and pattern of migration. Recent data released by government suggests that 4.63 lakh migrants returned to the state on trains and buses. Ground situation suggests that about 10 lakh more might have reached homes in state on foot or using other modes of transport.
Jain said that the preference shown by the migrant labourers to remain in their home villages henceforth underlines the necessity to strengthen rural economy beyond agriculture by the way of food processing, tourism, agro-allied enterprises and to promote local investors at district level. However, total lack of data and strategy in this regard is a big roadblock.
Expectations of the returned migrant labourers
The migrants who have returned have very basic survival related expectations, the survey shows, with 90.3 per cent of the migrant labourers seeking employment of all employable members in the families and 93.9 per cent seeking subsidised ration for all. They point out that there are many families who are not registered with the Public Distribution System (PDS). Further, there are many families where members’ names are missing in the list of eligible persons.
All of the returning migrants expect that the rates of minimum wages must be raised to 150 per cent of that of the existing ones. Around two-third (63.2 per cent) expect to be covered in some pension scheme or benefit with direct financial support.
As many as 87.7 per cent migrant labourers want better health services at the community development block level and 76.8 per cent of the migrant workers desire to be endowed with legal entitlement to employment and land for housing.
All of them believe quality education and training for children and adolescents shall go a long way in bringing about positive change in their lives.
