Managing the migrants who returned  

As a policy response to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian government’s decision to go for world’s largest, complete and the most stringent lockdown for almost six weeks has been lauded in several quarters, not the least by a self-congratulatory government.

But the resultant shocks on economic activities and labour markets have created deep uncertainties about the future. The reality of employment and income losses, particularly in the informal sector which engages a whopping 400 million workers, is real and grim. A large number among them, about 28 million, are migrant workers in urban India, and many among them wanted to return to their villages after the lockdown.

While the suffering is similar across the country, Uttarakhand merits a closer look because of its proximity to Delhi, where five per cent of the city’s migrant population were estimated to be from the neighbouring hill state. Uttarakhand has faced faster outmigration in recent years because of dwindling employment opportunities in the state.

But the indifference of the state government to their plight is worrying the experts. A sizeable proportion of out-migrants from Uttarakhand, although they are relatively better educated, mostly work in menial jobs, earning low incomes without any social security benefits and have poor working and living conditions.

With the sudden closure of workplaces, they had no option but to return to their villages. Many of them failed to return as they would not find shelter on their return as their villages have virtually been abandoned over the years due to heavy out-migration.

This was revealed in a quick telephonic survey of 85 migrant workers, who returned to a cluster of seven villages in Thalisain block of Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. At least six of them had travelled about 350 km on foot from Ghaziabad and Meerut to reach their villages to escape the disease and economic distress in the city. But misfortune continues to haunt them.

Uncertainty over the duration of the lockdown, the fear of being infected by the virus and expenses involved in staying back in the city without any work and corresponding income, as in the case of other migrant workers, are what prompted them to return. Another important factor was the absence of cooking arrangements where they lived as most of them would depend on their employers for their meals. None of them had a PDS card or gas connection.

Back in their villages, most of these migrant workers are assisting their families in traditional subsistence agriculture, which generally involves backbreaking work but fetches very low yields and income. This is adding to the already serious problem of under-employment. Almost all migrants’ families own small parcels of scattered agricultural land, generally up to one acre. Due to lack of casual wage works including MNREGA, migrants are unable to participate in such works.

The immediate worry of the migrants is about the uncertainty of returning to their workplaces, and the loss of income. With an average monthly earning of Rs. 12500 in the city, they were able to remit about half of their income back home. They fear that weaker economic conditions of their employers amidst lockdown would make them plead inability to pay salaries. Most of these migrant workers were yet to receive their salary for the month of March 2020 when the lockdown started. Added to the uncertainty of receiving their dues, there is the added anxiety of arranging for money to travel back to the city and hunt for fresh employment in case their erstwhile employers decide against restarting their business.

Some of them confided that their landlords in the city have started calling them for payment of rent. Unable to remit even the paltry amounts that they sent back home earlier, financial stability of the families has already taken a hit. Adding to their worry is the plight of fellow villagers or migrant workers from the state who failed to return from the city and have run out of money to feed themselves.

An overwhelming majority, about 80% of the respondents, would like to return to cities once the situation improves and becomes ‘completely normal’. As long as the possibility of another lockdown imposed with little or no notice remains, they would naturally be wary to return. Not surprisingly, they hardly see any employment opportunities in or around their villages. Those not willing to migrate again plan to undertake activities such as dairy, poultry and goat rearing. For this, they need guidance and support.

The obsession for regular salaried jobs among the migrants very often made them work at low salaries. Despite their relatively better education compared to migrant workers from many other states, they have rarely ventured for self-employed activities in the cities. Lack of training and proper guidance are responsible. Major causes of widespread outmigration from the hill regions of Uttarakhand are well known and have been identified as lack of employment opportunities, undue obsession for salaried jos and lack of quality education and health facilities .

As an immediate relief, the state government can provide migrant workers/households with financial help of ₹2500 per month for the next three months. This amount should be in addition to other help being given to households such as food and other cash transfers. These youths also would also like to work in MNREGA for the time being, which need to be resumed immediately. As a mid-term strategy, the government can guide and support those youths who are willing to take up farmbased activities such as dairy, poultry, goat rearing, etc. Uttarakhand also needs to urgently promote horticulture and tourism as an alternative source of livelihood in the state. As a long term strategy, what is required is training of youth in emerging occupations. Skill development and employment opportunities in tourism, repair and maintenance of electrical and electronic equipment, motor mechanic, carpentry, driving and a range of other skills are needed to generate employment within the state. The current development strategy with an emphasis on big industries and capital intensive investment need to be revisited.

(Views expressed are personal. The author is S.R. Sankaran Chair Professor, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj), Hyderabad)

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