The demonetisation aftermath has landed the migrant labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in a deep crisis. Many of them are returning to their native States. The contractors are paying them wages in the now- defunct notes of 500 and 1000. Most of them having no bank accounts, they are getting the smaller currencies in lieu of these notes by parting away with `100 for a 500 rupee note to those who are exchanging them. Those who have accounts in the banks are unable to queue up for the fact that if they do they would lose a day’s wage, something they can hardly afford. They say that they are in such a plight that they are unable to think whether the move would help the country in the long run.
As usual, the wage earners are found awaiting the contractors near Kali Mandir at Raipur to pick them up for their daily works. But their number was far less than the normal one on Tuesday morning. Even the number of contractors was less.
“Even if we get jobs for the day the contractors are paying us in the notes of `500 and `1000, now scrapped. We cannot refuse to take them as the contractors say that they cannot pay us in the smaller currencies. We are losing `100 for an `500 note to those who help us with the exchange of currencies,” said Ashish, native of Purnia (Bihar).
Many of them have gone back to their native states, hoping that things would prove a shade better there. Those still left say that the situation being the same everywhere, they are unlikely to get respite in case they follow suit. “We are in an unprecedented crisis. We have never faced the like of this before. We have bank accounts. But if we queue up there to exchange money it would take many hours and consequently, we would lose a day’s wages which we can hardly afford with the uncertainty staring us in the face. So we are choosing to lose `100 for an `500 note to get smaller currencies which we can use to meet our daily expenses,” said Rama Avtar (50), native of Sitamarhi (Bihar) gloomily.
The construction business taking a hit in the aftermath of the currency recall, the wage earners are at the receiving end of things. “We work mostly in construction works after being hired by the contractors. The construction activities having almost collapsed, we are thinking to leave Dehradun. We do not know when things would look up again. We know that the situation would be no better if we return to our native places. But we have no other option. Jobs not coming our way, it is proving difficult even to get our daily food,” said Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh) native Armaan Ali.
Banshi lal, another native of Bijnor, said that the Centre had robbed them of their daily sustenance by the draconian step. Told that it would benefit the nation in the long run, he nodded his head hesitantly. “Yes. Things might happen so. But would we be alive till then to see the better daysIJ What we need now is money that we can use to buy food and other daily essentials,” he said, eyes reflecting desperation.