Despite tough conditions, migrant workers earn better wages in state

For Suraj, Arun Mandal and Chander, who belong to different districts in Bihar, the two months of June and July are the “best” as far as good returns are concerned. Hundreds of workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar come during these two months to sow paddy here in Punjab. While they get better wages, they also face several challenges while working in fields.

Talking to The Tribune, Suraj said he belonged to the Purniya district in Bihar. “Now is the time to go back, we came here in the last week of May as paddy sowing was to begin from June 1,” he said. When asked if he got good returns, Suraj replied, “Yes, as compared to the wages in Bihar, we got better returns here in these two months. Why would we come here if we were given respectable wages back in our native place?”. Suraj added that he was able to make up to Rs 25,000 during the paddy sowing season.

Voicing similar views, Arun Mandal said they were given shanties by the landlords for the two months that we worked in their fields. “We get the full wage, they do not generally cut it. At the same time, we also face many challenges while working in the fields as our feet are soaked in one-two feet of water for about 10-12 hours a day. And if we are down with fever or any other health related issue arises, we have to go to Machhiwara to get medicines as there are hardly any hospitals or dispensaries here,” said a labourer, working for a landlord near Isapur village in the Macchiwara area.

The labour said often they encountered snakes in the fields. “It is scary but then we have to live with the fact that we should be ready to face challenges. If we are given the wages, we will have to face the challenges as well. The other day, a labourer was bitten by a snake but thankfully it was not poisonous and he recovered well,” said Sanjay Yadav, another migrant.

The labourer is usually paid between Rs 4,000-4,500 per acre for paddy sowing and then they are hired to cut wild grass, put fertilisers etc in the crop. “They take care of every minute thing and we supervise them. Some of us have made permanent shanties for them. If one lot goes back, another comes and stays in the accommodation and it becomes easy for us every season,” said Ajmer Singh from village Daulatpur.

Ludhiana