At a time when major cities in Haryana have begun to witness a second exodus of migrant workers despite Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar urging them to stay back, a latest study by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has revealed how the migrant workers are considered as a burden on system and resources in the state.

“A huge 61 per cent migrant workers (respondents) in Haryana reported non- provisioning of entitlements of Government schemes, 49 per cent reported ill treatment and only 29 per cent migrant labourers reported to  have limited access to health care services,” according to the field survey commissioned by NHRC and carried out by ‘Kerala Development Society’.

Pointing out prejudices and discrimination against interstate migrant workers (ISMWs), the study revealed that 86 per cent respondents in Haryana accepted that local people consider migrant labourers as outsiders and do not treat them as equals in the society while 87 per cent admitted that local population believe migrant labourers are polluting the environment by dumping wastes in public places.

Four states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana were covered in the field survey. Two districts namely Gurugram and Karnal in Haryana were covered where the researchers interviewed around 1100 migrant workers, local workers, scholars, employers or contractors, trade unions, government officials, elected representatives among others.

Haryana houses a large number of workers from West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and a large number of migrant workers work in farmlands, factories, shops and construction sites, according to the survey report.

The survey stated, “59 percent respondents reported that employers discriminate against interstate migrant workers in the labour market in respect of wages and accommodation in Haryana.

Migrant workers are looked upon as outsiders or second class citizens by the local host administration. In fact, the local administration considers migrant workers as a burden on systems and resources.”

“56 percent ISMWs have poor access to available schemes and services due to the lack of information and language barriers,” it pointed out.

Citing that the most vulnerable ISMWs are homeless, live in off-site settlements, that is, pavements and street edges, under flyovers and bridges, the study revealed, “Only 34 percent migrant workers were given accommodation in labour camps provided by the contractors and 46.25 percent ISMWs were found living in rented room sharing accommodation.”

Revealing pathetic condition of a labour camp in Haryana, the study stated that a labour camp, set up by a private construction company, for housing over 200 migrant workers in a district was maintained in extremely unhygienic conditions and about 20 migrant workers were accommodated in a room meant for just 6 people.

Recounting the visuals of ill-fated migrant workers walking away from Haryana towards interstate borders during the Covid-19 triggered lockdown period last year, the study also shared the bitter experiences of journey on foot of Vijay.

 A youth migrant worker from Agra who was working as a sweet maker in Karnal and Madan, 32 and his wife Chand Rani from Bihar who used to work at a kiln in Karnal.

Notably, a large number of migrant workers from various districts of Haryana were seen returning to their villages in home states after losing their work in the wake of the national lockdown that started on March 25 last year.

The NHRC study further stated that during COVID-19 lockdown period, 31 percent ISMWs in Haryana completely lost livelihood.

 24.75 per cent of ISMWs were found to be working for the last two to three years and 16.25 per cent were found to be working for the last three to four years in the state, it added.

This year too, migrant workers from the unorganised sectors have started heading home from various districts of Haryana, fearing another lockdown in the wake of surge in COVID-19 cases in the country and state.

While night curfew has been imposed in all districts of Haryana, the State Government has so far ruled out any possibility of imposing a lockdown and has requested the migrant workers to stay back and continue working in the state.