Rayagada: There seems to be no let-up in migration from Rayagada as labourers from the district have again started migrating to their work places in other states to earn a livelihood after the first phase polling in the district ended, May 13.
According to reports, Rayagada district has turned into a hub for trafficking of thousands of labourers due to lack of work opportunities in the district.
Poverty is stated to be the main reason behind their migration. Middlemen taking advantage of their helplessness lure them with work and help them move to other states. However, these migrant workers are often subjected to harassment, violence, and discrimination during their stay at their destinations which force them to return home impoverished.
And also, once they reached their workplace, it becomes difficult for them to keep contact with their families while many go missing or die an untimely death during work due to lack of food or disease. This pushes them into uncertainties as they do not know when they will get an opportunity to return home.
The migrant labourers had come to their respective villages to cast their votes in on-going the elections. However, they have again started leaving for their work places after culmination of the polls. People from various areas in the district were seen assembling at bus stands and railway stations for the last three days to board a bus or train to travel outside the state.
While some of them were seen getting into buses for Vizianagaram or Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, some others were found boarding trains to Tamil Nadu. Some others were seen catching trains for Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, or some other states.
People are migrating to other states for work despite the presence of over 3,000 small, medium and large scale industries operating in the state. Absence of work opportunities in these industries is stated to be another reason behind the large scale migration.
Sources said that these migrant labourers had come home before the election and casted votes to the candidates in the election held, May 13. However, in between all these brouhaha, none of the political parties or candidates spared a thought to stop their migration or promised to provide employment opportunities to these poor labourers.
As a result, the migrant labourers, including minors, have again started packing back for their work places in distant lands after elections.
Reports said that out of the 11 blocks in the district, Kalyansinghpur, Kashipur, Chandrapur and Gudari are account for the maximum migrations in the district. The migrant labourers belong to all age-groups including adult, minor boys and minor girls too.
Sources said that eight youths from Kantamal and Surugunja villages under Kashipur block left for work to Chalakudi town in Kerala. They were found waiting at Rayagada railway station to board a train for Vizianagaram where they will again board a train to Chalakudi in Kerala.
Many inhabitants from Talajhiri, Banteji, Sarambai, Mandijhola, Routghati, Badamagur, Taladeska, Keshkeri, Chandagiri, Sindurghati, Chiliguda, Kantamal, Adatakiri, Baharduluki, Bhitarduluki, Padamajhi, Bariguda, Bhramarjhari, Siadimala and other villages under Kashipur block are now working as migrant labourers in Karnataka and Kerala.
Similarly, several residents of Belamguda, Jarpa, Bandiri, Katisur, Gendabaju, Khilundi, Raibiji, Guchhujaba in Chandrapur block and Polama, Siripur, Bhalumaska, Serigumma, Phulaguda, Lakshmi Nagar, Talasaja, Bijaynagar villages in Kalyansighpur block are now working in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
When contacted, District Labour Officer Jasmine Sahu said that the Panchayatiraj department has been asked to keep details of the migrant labourers. “Funds have been allocated for this purpose, but there is no rule to stop people from migrating,” she added.
PNN