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The helpless migrate from Balangir after Nuankhai
September 16, 2010 12:53:38 AM
Sudhir Mishra | Balangir
The helpless migrate from Balangir after Nuankhai
September 16, 2010 12:53:38 AM
Sudhir Mishra | Balangir
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Even as Naabnna (Nuankhai), the festival of eating newly-harvested
paddy, after offering to deity first, is observed in Balangir district
and other areas of western Odisha, with religious fervor, traditional
gaiety and enthusiasm, it also heralds the beginning of the migration
season.
Migration of poor, landless and marginalized, mostly SC, ST people to
brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh and other States, from this district, is
going on for the last four decades.
As the Nuankhai festival approaches, Sardars, Dalals start scouting for
labourers from village to village in the migration prone blocks of the
district namely Belpada. , Khaprakhol, Titiligrah, Patanagarh,
Muribahal, Bongomunda, Saintalaand Tureikela in search of labourers to
work in the brick kilns. They offer a token amount as first time
advance to these people, locally known as BahaBandha (Literally meaning
both arms are tied or confirmation of going for migrants).
According to reports, people of Debripali and Tentelkhunti in Patnagarh
subdivision have accepted Bahabandha advance by local sardars. Reports
further suggest that they have been given advance of Rs 1,000. These
people will migrate after receiving the full amount ranging from Rs
15,000 to Rs 20,000 said Jatin Patra of NGO Adhikar. One of the major
reasons of migration in recent times is the failure of MNERGA to
provide jobs to people and failure of people to get timely wage
payment, said Jatin further.According to reports around 3,000 people in
the district have accepted the pre- Nuankhai advance, points out an NGO
worker. It is ironical that even as the people working in paddy fields
get the crop ready, yet they loose their entitlement and the
production, as they would be away from their homes, when the crop would
be ready, points out another activist.
Every year more than one lakh people, including14, 000 school going
children migrate from this district. Migrations of poor and
marginalised people have been going on from this district for four
decades yet no effort has been taken to streamline the migration
process. These people are losing two things; loss of entitlements at
home and loss of recognition of their rights at worksites as majority
of them are working in unrecognised brick kilns, said Sanjay Mishra.
==Even as Naabnna (Nuankhai), the festival of eating newly-harvested
paddy, after offering to deity first, is observed in Balangir district
and other areas of western Odisha, with religious fervor, traditional
gaiety and enthusiasm, it also heralds the beginning of the migration
season.
Migration of poor, landless and marginalized, mostly SC, ST people to
brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh and other States, from this district, is
going on for the last four decades.
As the Nuankhai festival approaches, Sardars, Dalals start scouting for
labourers from village to village in the migration prone blocks of the
district namely Belpada. , Khaprakhol, Titiligrah, Patanagarh,
Muribahal, Bongomunda, Saintalaand Tureikela in search of labourers to
work in the brick kilns. They offer a token amount as first time
advance to these people, locally known as BahaBandha (Literally meaning
both arms are tied or confirmation of going for migrants).
According to reports, people of Debripali and Tentelkhunti in Patnagarh
subdivision have accepted Bahabandha advance by local sardars. Reports
further suggest that they have been given advance of Rs 1,000. These
people will migrate after receiving the full amount ranging from Rs
15,000 to Rs 20,000 said Jatin Patra of NGO Adhikar. One of the major
reasons of migration in recent times is the failure of MNERGA to
provide jobs to people and failure of people to get timely wage
payment, said Jatin further.According to reports around 3,000 people in
the district have accepted the pre- Nuankhai advance, points out an NGO
worker. It is ironical that even as the people working in paddy fields
get the crop ready, yet they loose their entitlement and the
production, as they would be away from their homes, when the crop would
be ready, points out another activist.
Every year more than one lakh people, including14, 000 school going
children migrate from this district. Migrations of poor and
marginalised people have been going on from this district for four
decades yet no effort has been taken to streamline the migration
process. These people are losing two things; loss of entitlements at
home and loss of recognition of their rights at worksites as majority
of them are working in unrecognised brick kilns, said Sanjay Mishra.
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