In India the internal migration is about 309 million (near about 30% of the
total population). Most of the people migrates to near by cities/ industrial areas because the economic factors. Out of the total a large majority migrates only because of the Push factors that enforce the individuals/
Households to move on. The Pull factors has no or very minimal role in Indian. The current scenario of COVID-19 worsen their situation by
restricting all economic activities.
A large
majority of the workforce in India depends on agricultural works to earn their
daily livelihood; Chattisgarh is not exceptional to this. But the agriculture
works mostly completed after the harvesting session i.e during the winter. In
order to feed their family members during the lean period, Mr. Jagdish
Suryavanshi, Mr. Ghasiram Suryavanshhi and Mr. Chhat Ram of Jahangir Champa
district moved to Lohardaga, Jharkhad during the month of December 2020 with
their family members. A total of 11 members including 01 child and 02
Adolescent girls shifted from their native place to work in the brick kiln. This
was a family business i.e the whole family (Except the small Kid) engaged in brick
preparation work.
The COVID-19 Pandemic affected almost all the business activities in India and the brick business was not exceptional from others. Due to the lockdown and travel restriction measures the sale of bricks reduced drastically on the contrary the increased production creates a situation of large surplus of stocks. Hence the owner of the brick kiln Mr. Kuanar Bahadur decided to stop production before the scheduled time. Due to this the families have to stay there without any work. Due to the travel restriction they are not able to returned back to their home. At the end Mr. Kunar Bahadur interacted with the driver of a vehicle (JH-08C-6341) returning from Lohardga to drop them back. He has also calculated their earnings during this period. The families produces 3, 50,592 (Ghasiram: 117192, Jagdish: 180000, Chhat Ram: 53500) bricks. As per the negotiation they should get 2, 10,355 (Rs. 600/- per 1000 bricks).
The main concern was that although the team has a credit amount of Rs. 2,10,355 Mr. Bhadur gave only Rs.1000/- to each family as travel expenses. He has not also communicated clearly to the Driver to drop them in their respective localities. The drive tried to drop them near the Jharkhand-Chhatisgarh border. The people do not have anything with themselves except Rs.1000/- for travel.
Food and Dignity Kits were provided to all; which will not only help them to meet their need for food but also protect them from possible infections during travel. The driver was not interested to drop them at their destiny, hence the support of the block administration has been mobilized to resolve the issue. With the instruction of the block administration the driver dropped them in the nearby police station (Lodam) in Chhatisgarh. The Chhatisgarh Govt has arranged vehicle for the group to move their native places.
The group safely reached their native place within 2 days without any problem. As per the travel norms, for all interstate travels quarantine is mandatory. Hence all the members are in the quarantine center for 14 days and discharged.
