COVID-19: Migrant Workers Back in UP Struggle to Make Ends Meet

The middle-aged housewife had returned from Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu along with her nine kids and husband on May 21. The family, as per the government’s protocol, was kept in an institutional quarantine for 15 days and was later allowed to go home in Jasoda village, about 40 kilometre south of Kannauj district.

Soon after returning, Guddi Devi and her husband Shree Ram who were selling homemade ice cream in Cuddalore found themselves in troubled water as the ration was running out and the latter was also struggling to find a job.

“We got 10 kgs of ration after being released from the quarantine, but that was over very soon. We were not left with any money or ration to feed our kids. Later, my wife and one of the kids also fell sick and I had no other option than selling payal (anklets) of my elder daughter and wife in the market for Rs 1,500. With that money, I bought some ration and medicines. I even borrowed some money from my cousin who lives in the village, but that was not enough. I did all this because I could not see my kids hungry; they slept without eating for two days,” Shree Ram told reporters.

A study published by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business says that a sharp and a broadly negative impact on Indian household income has been observed with nearly 84% of households reporting decreased income ever since the lockdown was announced.

A report published by LiveMint says that 30% of India’s urban population may deplete their lifetime savings by the end of June and would find it difficult to meet essential consumption needs while the rural poor have been less affected because they have seen some amount of government support in the form of direct cash transfers and public distribution systems (PDS).

A visit to Shree Ram’s house confirmed that the family was going through an acute financial crisis with kids depending on Babool [acacia branch] to brush their teeth and ash to wash their hands and utensils. There were no spices other than turmeric and salt to cook food. The elder daughters said they were contemplating working as house help, but were struggling to find jobs.

Also read: Stark Reality of Women’s Employment in India: Insights from the Periodic Labour Force Survey

Shree Ram’s elder daughter Ragini said hat her father was asked to go back to his native place by the village head in Cuddalore district as the disease was spreading very fast and the family’s sole breadwinner had no work to do. “With some help from the people we knew and the savings we had, my father arranged for the train tickets. We had thought that we would get some help from the government and administration, but nothing was done to help us even after we complained to the gram pradhan here,” she alleged.

It may also be mentioned that the state of Uttar Pradesh, during the lockdown, has seen the largest reverse migration from the big metro and industrial cities in India. State’s Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi last week in a press release said that more than 25 lakh labourers have returned to the state in Shramik Special trains and the government was taking extra efforts to provide jobs to them.

The largest number of migrants have returned to the Gorakhpur division as per the records available with the government officials. However, the government does not have details of the migrants who have returned either on foot or through other means of transport.

The government also claims that it has provided jobs to over 51 lakh people in the state under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, but the ground reality suggests that in deep rural pockets, people are struggling to find jobs and get two square meals.

‘Need More Projects, More Schemes’

A chief development officer (CDO) posted in one of the Eastern Uttar Pradesh districts said that the government has instructed them to issue maximum job cards and provide jobs under the MGNREGA scheme. “But the scope of MGNREGA is narrow and nothing new has come up which can help us provide jobs. Some new schemes need to be launched or the stipend given to these people has to be increased because thousand rupees do not make much difference. The amount of ration being given to them should also be increased,” he said. He added that while he doesn’t doubt the government’s ‘good’ intentions, “there is no vision or long-term solution to end this crisis”.

“New projects have to be launched under different central government schemes. Otherwise, we do not see much scope here and everyone knows about the budget constraints of the state government,” he further said.

Pushpendra Singh, an activist based in Banda, said, “People are reeling under deep financial pressure. Many people are taking loans mortgaging their livestock, land and even jewellery only to feed their kids. The work under MGNREGA is not going to help much as the rains have already come and the work these people have been assigned will not continue for long in the monsoons. The industries, construction activities are yet to gain pace and till then, the government and victims of lockdown have no clue about how to sustain.”

Relief for some people

Soon after the story of Shree Ram selling his wife’s ornaments for Rs 1,500 went viral, the district administration sprang into action and provided 10 kg of wheat and rice, and also made a job card for Shree Ram so that he can get some work under the MGNREGA scheme.

Kannauj’s District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Mishra, in a telephonic conversation, told NewsClick that the block development and supply inspector have been directed to help Shree Ram’s family and other families who have returned from other cities and are finding it hard to survive. “Now things are okay with Shree Ram’s family and we are taking care of other people who have migrated to Kannauj from other cities. Shree Ram now has a job under the MGNREGA,” he added.

Also read: Over 2 Crore MGNREGA Job Seekers Turned Back Since April