Raipur: When the pandemic hit the world, they ran to their homes, barefoot; they neither cared about the blazing sun over their heads, wiping away sweat, hugging their children close to their bosoms with an empty stomach, they came in search of two square meals a day.
However, they did not know that one day they would have to return; just like they had left, disappointed and hopeless. These are labourers of a state whose government is claiming to give maximum employment under the MNREGA scheme as well as saying that there is no recession.
The Chhattisgarh government is claiming that the state occupies the number one position in the country in terms of providing employment to labourers. The real picture becomes clear as an exodus of labourers has started their journey back in search of livelihood since Diwali.
Even though the government has initiated paddy purchase from December 1, surprisingly, labourers have started migrating. Hundreds of labourers arriving daily from various districts can be seen at the capital's bus stand, moving out to different states in search of employment.
Escape due to lack of work
ETV Bharat spoke to people who had arrived in the capital to leave the state. A labourer informed that he had returned home on foot during the lockdown. But due to lack of employment, he is helpless and is now going back to earn a livelihood. They are no longer afraid of Corona. About 100 people from his village have already gone out in search of employment. In such a situation, he cannot stay at home and wait for a job.
Government's claim turns out to be futile
When the workers were returning to Chhattisgarh due to the Corona pandemic, the government had welcomed them and said that the workers would be given employment at home according to their skills. It was also told that employment camps would be set up in the month of July. But the workers do not seem to have received any benefits.
Low wages in farm work
The usual trend in Chattisgarh is that post-harvest of Kharif crops labourers migrate as there will not be any work in the fields. But the scenario has changed now. In a conversation with ETV Bharat, a labourer also informed that working in the field fetches very low wages. On a daily basis, the rate is 70 rupees in paddy cultivation and 80 rupees for paddy harvesting. It is not possible to lead a life with such a small amount of money. In the times of inflation, one cannot feed a family properly with just Rs 70-80.
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MNREGA work stopped
A labourer said that even though the government had claimed 100 days of employment under the MNREGA scheme, people are not getting 100 days of work. In many districts, work has been completely stopped. A labourer informed that at present there is no work under MNREGA in his area. It will prolong for the next 3 months.
Another worker said that under the MNREGA scheme, work is available only during the summer days. No MNREGA work has been opened in his village yet. In such a situation, going out and earning money is their compulsion.
Inflation is back-breaking
The workers also say that inflation is touching the sky. They cannot buy tomatoes for 60 rupees per kilogram. The government is helping the farmers who have land, but the labourers who do not have fields, are not getting any help.
Helplessness reflected in the reply of Ministers!
Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat said that there are some specific skill-orientated labourers, who work exclusively in brick kilns and welding; no one can stop those workers from escaping.
Power politics in the name of labourers
Former Chief Minister Raman Singh has begun to target the government on the issue of labour exodus. He said that neither the government had given any facility during the arrival of the labourers nor have they been helped. Paddy harvesting is going on, but workers are going out in search of employment.
The administration has stopped the exodus
In many places, the district administration has prevented the exodus of workers. There were two major cases in November.
* In Pithora police station area of Mahasamund, workers and children have been freed from the clutches of a broker. The police have rescued 167 labourers and 55 children from the clutches of the labour broker. The broker had arranged the pickup of these workers by sending a bus to the village; this bus was supposed to take these labourers to Uttar Pradesh.
* In Balodabazar, Kasdol SDM Tekchand Agarwal along with help of officials stopped the exodus of about 350 labourers. Riding in three buses and a pick-up vehicle, 350 workers were migrating to work in a brick kiln in Uttar Pradesh.
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