No let-up in migration: Study

BHUBANESWAR: Migration continues unabated from western Odisha. A latest study has revealed that absence of employment, faulty credit system and ineffective implementation of MGNREGS aggravated the problem in the State with many districts reporting rise in migration in the last few years. In Balangir, migration has risen by 83 per cent in the last three years. During 2009-11, migration had gone up by 37 per cent, but last year, it witnessed a massive jump. The study covered 4,311 people from 981 households in three blocks of the district and found that 90 per cent were migrants. The micro-level study by Aide et Action, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Labour Department of the State Government has said 80 per cent of the migration in Balangir was due to distress conditions in the villages. There is no work in the villages while loan repayment and crop failure are the two most recurring factors of migration for the households.A common feature was migrants borrowed heavily. Above 95 per cent migrants borrowed to meet their medical expenses and family rituals whereas 55 per cent borrow for their day-to-day sustenance. Just about 74 per cent families had sufficient money to buy PDS items. At least 69 per cent of the migrants borrow from money-lenders while just nine per cent approached SHGs. Kalahandi, part of the study, also presents a similar pattern. At least 81 per cent of the studied population turned out to be migrants. While most were from BPL categories, 45 per cent did not possess any card. The study found that principal occupation of these migrant families was working for daily wage. While 59 per cent of the surveyed migrants did not possess any land, about 38 per cent had less than two acres.Close to 97 per cent of the migrants said they were forced to migrate because of several factors such as lack of employment and livelihood support. An important finding of the survey in Balangir was that a significant chunk (32 per cent) migrant households complained of non-availability of work during the lean periods while 22 per cent said payment of dues was delayed. However, 94 per cent of the migrants saidthey received job when demanded.  It also revealed when migrants returned to villages in May and June, there was no work available under NREGS which started during September and October. By that time, the migrants had borrowed to meet their needs and started moving out.