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Reverse Migration: Restructuring rural resources

May 16, 2020

Coronavirus pandemic has triggered a massive reverse mig¬ration from the “destination” to “source” in large parts of the country. We witness hundreds of thousands of ¬labourers marching back to their villages in order to find some warmth and empathy more than anything else. The migration statistics which is now being more visible than ever is however a result of a marked change in the migration pattern in the last decade which has been the interstate movement to new growth centers, especially in small and medium sized towns. Conversely, the challenges and consequences of this scenario of reverse migration has to be addressed not only by the migrants but also by the nation as a whole including both the central and state governments as well as the trade and industry which these people have been serving at large. World Trade Center Bhubaneswar thus organized a webinar on “Reverse Migration – An Opportunity in Disguise” in order to discuss and analyze the impact as well as the way out for dealing with this emerging situation. 


Mr. Umi Daniel, Director, Migration and Education, Aide et Action, South Asia in his deliberations spoke about his observation on the journey of migrants over the last two decades. Mentioning the current scenario as a distress reverse migration, he emphasized that the current pattern is basically intended towards reuniting with the family members rather than staying as an unidentified individual in the city which does not consciously acknowledge them. He also spoke on how these all people were treated and are being stigmatized, because of the fear factor thereby creating discrimination. Speaking on the scale of Reverse Migration in Odisha he shared that while the unofficial statistics is about five million, the government until recent times has received five lakh registrations through various sources. Highlighting the major sectors where the migrants are engaged, he specified that the largest migrants from Odisha are in power looms in Surat which is about eight to nine lakh, then came brick kilns where around three lakh from western part of Odisha are engaged, next came the plumbers, domestic help, field workers who are new entrants mostly through DDGKY in spinning mills, traditional fishing community migrating from the coastline, construction and tourism and hotel industry. “Dignified entry into their villages, good health and providing livelihood for the coming six months to one year needs to be ensured” he said. “Mapping of their skills, providing apt engagement and respecting their human rights should be the approach” he added.


Mr. Liby T Johnson, Executive Director, Gram Vikas spoke about the initiatives taken by Gram Vikas in about five districts of Southern Odisha in order to try and understand the ratios of migrants in the districts while working on reviving their livelihood. He highlighted that skilling shall emerge as a huge issue in dealing with this situation. “Resources available in the villages especially in the southern and western parts of Odisha is not sufficient to actually create the kind of economic opportunity that every person in these villages need” said Mr. Johnson. He further shared that one of the surveys revealed that the migrant workers intend to earn around Rs.375 per day which meant Rs.10,000/- per month. “Ensuring this level of income at villages would hold them back to stay at their sources but if you see any of our economic activity you will find that the return on investment is somewhere around twenty percent which means an investment of one thousand crores is needed in one block alone to generate this kind of income levels which is in turn not feasible to do across the state. Therefore migration is unavoidable” he said. “The point is that migration should become safe and dignified so that people are not forced to go and live in inhuman conditions like slaves” he added. From a constructive point of view he presented his views on migration as a boon for the State of Odisha with certain measures being taken such as ensuring immediate cash transfer mechanism, tele counselling for keeping their mental health high, skill training and skill up-gradtion, building state to state relationship, developing a mechanism of source destination collaboration ensuring social protection, guiding them to invest their income wisely back into the village. “Distress migration should be stopped, aspirational migration would obviously continue and with authentic data and identity now being available the government should take steps to help them to either migrate or stay back as per their discretion” he concluded. 


Prof. Prafulla Dhal, General Manager & Head CSR, JK Paper Mills Ltd in his address highlighted the upcoming shortage of labor which is going to emerge in various sectors such as construction, hospitality, fisheries etc. He highlighted that considering 22% reduction of poverty in Odisha in the last twenty years with the current trend of reverse migration 26% are again going to fall under the poverty trap if the situation is not managed appropriately. “Migration from source to any other destination will see a steep down surge. “Odisha has twenty to twenty five lakh migrants who are going to come back creating huge labor shortage at destination and labor surplus at source” said Prof. Dhal. “Unless planned well the situation is bound to bring in economic imbalance” he added. He further shared his views that forty percent of migrants will not return while sixty percent who will return will need rigorous counseling. While advocating for development of a robust data building system from the grass root levels itself he shared that migration is a way of life and can’t be stopped but a well recorded and planned migration should be mapped out by the government. 


Mrs. Nimeshika Natarajan, Assistant Director, World Trade Center Bhubaneswar earlier in her address while welcoming all took the opportunity introduce the speakers. She also shared the objective of the webinar and its significance in the current scenario. 


Mr. Swadesh Kumar, Coordinator, Kalinga Kusum Foundation proposed the vote of thanks.