How to view migrant labour exodus?
Mahesh Jana, a 20 year old migrant worker cycled a distance of 1,700 km from Maharashtra to reach his home in Odisha. Rajia Begum covered a distance of 1,400 kms from Bodhan in Telangana to Nellore City in Andhrapradesh to pickup his son. 27 migrant labourers bought a boat worth 1.7 lakh rupees to reach Odisha from Chennai. Raja Kumari, a pregnant woman walked 70kms from Machilipatnam to Vijayawada to board a Shramik special train. These are some of the few stories of migrant exodus during COVID-19.
COVID-19 has only brought the problems of migrant labourers into limelight. Housing for migrant labourers is a problem that has been existing for decades. Most of the migrant workers are dependant on daily wages for their livelihood. Decentralised public distribution system lacked the mechanism to provide food security to migrants. In a country where top 73% of total wealth is held by 1% population, COVID-19 affected the bottom most strata of the society very badly. Approximately 80 people died in Shramik special trains till 6th June 2020. There is no single solution to solve the problems of migrants. A series of reforms are required to solve the problem of existing inequalities in the society. Some of them are as follows:
Universal Basic Income
Let us take the case study of Andhrapradesh. Andhrapradesh spends excessively on welfare schemes. Approximately 24%(36,000 crore rupees) of its budget is spent on welfare schemes. If properly restructured along with union grants, approximately 2,500 rupees can be given per household per month to 75% of total households. Considering the number of unorganised sector employees in the country, the amount that is granted will surely help in living a dignified life and provides social security to every poor household including migrants.
Rights for migrants
Migrants from UttarPradesh and Bihar do not have a political say in Delhi’s elections, migrants from Orissa do not have a say in Maharashtra’s elections. As a result, the plight of migrants is largely ignored by the political parties and the federal governments. Provision for exercising vote in local and state elections will give migrants a political power and push the governments in power to take care of social security of migrants.
Labour reforms
Construction workers stay in settlements near the construction site and depend largely on daily wage labour. There is no serious reform in this country to bring them under organised sector and make provision for the employer to provide allowances for housing and social security. India has a working population of 55 crore. 90% of the total working population is working in unorganised sector. Majority of them do not have the social security needed. Sincere and serious labour reforms are needed to solve this squalid problem.
Decentralised development
According to the World Economic Forum, the consumption market in India values at 1.5 trillion dollars. This is expected to increase to 6 trillion dollars by 2030. By 2030, approximately 25% of the total consumption market of the 6 trillion dollars is expected to be from 40 large cities in India. It is important to create urban amenities locally in every corner and state of this country. This prevents a person in migrating from Odisha to Maharashtra or Chennai, from UP or Bihar to Delhi, from Rayalaseema to Bangalore, from Assam to Bangalore or Delhi.
The above reforms will provide financial and help migrants live a dignified life. Government of India is already working on operational aspects of One Nation One Ration Card. Access to any fair price shop will provide every person with food security.
However, somewhere between 5 trillion dollar economy and magnanimous promises, we have failed as a nation in providing basic social security needs to the poor person of this country. It is a matter of shame as a nation that even after 70 years of independence, the poor man is still struggling to get access to food and shelter.
Jai Hind!
