Search for better wages and regular work is why we have been migrating to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for years, say some of the workers from Chhattisgarh's Bastar division as they returned to the state on Thursday amid the lockdown.
A large group arrived in Raipur by ‘Shramik Special Train’ after boarding it at Guntur and Namburu. With help from the Raipur district administration, they will travel to their districts mainly Bastar, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Kondagaon, Mahasamund and Gariaband among others.
“We go for agriculture work after every kharif season for two-three months... We move to Andhra Pradesh or Telangana for two-three months. Then we return for harvest. After harvest again we migrate for work,” said Mittu, an elderly Gond tribal from Bastar district.
“We have been doing this since childhood. We earn around Rs 15,000-20,000 a month, which we cannot do in Chhattisgarh. So the best option is to migrate for work. There is no lack of work in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” he added.
Another returning worker, Goinchu, said that many of them worked in tobacco related farms.
Once the Covid-19 induced lockdown kept dragging and all economic activities virtually halted, the labourers decided it was best to return to Chhattisgarh.
"We registered ourselves online. We got a message that a train is available, so we took it," said one worker.
Balram Kashyap from Jagdalpur said that on reaching the boarding railway station, they got ticket from the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE). Food was provided free on the train. They also underwent thermal screening.
The workers were happy they don't need to depend on any labour contractor to go to the southern states because they had learnt by experience where to get work.
All of them were happy that instead of travelling on foot, they could reach Chhattisgarh by train. They will be taken to their districts by bus by the government.
Raipur City North MLA Vikas Upadhyaya who received the workers said: “The government is providing masks, buses and train fare to the workers from Chhattisgarh.”
He added: “Food packets are being provide by different social organizations and individuals.”