Chhattisgarh: Migration | Chhattisgarh State PSC (CGPSC) Preparation: All subjects - CGPSC (Chhattisgarh) PDF Download

Migration and Its Impact on Rural Communities in Chhattisgarh

• Migration has been profoundly reshaping the traditional social and economic structures of rural communities in Chhattisgarh. Rural families are increasingly diversifying their livelihood activities beyond farming through migration from rural to urban areas. The development of trade and industry, along with the influence of mass media, has encouraged the rural poor to move to urban centers in search of better living standards and improved livelihood opportunities. The lack of employment in rural areas, combined with better job prospects and infrastructure in urban areas, drives this migration.
• In rural Chhattisgarh, slow agricultural growth and limited development of the non-farm sector contribute to higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and underemployment. Since most high-productivity activities are located in urban areas, rural residents migrate to towns and cities with the hope of accessing diverse livelihood opportunities. For the rural poor, migration remains a crucial and reliable strategy for coping with economic challenges.
• Historically, human migration from what is now Chhattisgarh was recorded in the late 19th century, with significant waves occurring during the droughts of the 1960s. However, in recent years, migration has become more common, driven by development policies that inadvertently force the poor to seek better livelihoods elsewhere. Notably, within the state, women migrants often outnumber men, highlighting the critical role women play in securing household livelihoods and revealing shortcomings in the reach of welfare schemes to the most vulnerable populations.
• The reasons for migration in Chhattisgarh are varied and complex. The Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act (1979), enforced by the Ministry of Labour and its departments, aims to protect the rights of migrant workers. However, significant gaps in the implementation and progress of these protections have been noted in recent years. In response to these challenges, a consultative meeting was held, bringing together 33 participants from government, academia, trade unions, media, and civil society to discuss key features and trends in migration and address related policy challenges.

The Impact of Migration

• On Migrants and Their Families: Poorer migrant workers, who are often concentrated at the lower levels of the labor market, have limited rights and entitlements in relation to their employers or public authorities in the areas where they migrate. They possess few personal assets and face a variety of hardships in these destination areas. Migration has mixed effects on migrants and their families in the areas they come from, with both negative and positive consequences.
• Living Conditions: Migrant laborers, whether in agricultural or non-agricultural sectors, often live in extremely poor conditions. They lack access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities. Despite the Contract Labour Act, which mandates that contractors or employers provide adequate housing, many migrants live in open spaces or makeshift shelters. Seasonal workers and those who migrate to cities for jobs frequently reside in parks and on pavements. Slum dwellers, who are predominantly migrants, endure appalling living conditions with insufficient water and poor drainage systems. Additionally, food costs are higher for migrant workers who are unable to obtain temporary ration cards.
• Health and Education: Migrant laborers working under harsh conditions and living in unsanitary environments face serious occupational health issues and are highly susceptible to diseases. Those employed in quarries, construction sites, and mines are particularly prone to health risks, especially lung diseases, due to the lack of safety measures enforced by employers. Frequent accidents are a common occurrence. Migrants often cannot access various health and family care programs because of their temporary status, and they are generally excluded from free public health care services. Female workers, in particular, suffer from the absence of maternity leave, forcing them to return to work almost immediately after giving birth. Workers in tile factories and brick kilns are especially vulnerable to occupational health hazards such as body aches, sunstroke, and skin irritation.

Tribal issue in migration

Recent years have seen three distinct waves of migration in Chhattisgarh, particularly in areas with large Adivasi populations:

• First Wave: This involves young Adivasi women migrating to metropolitan cities. With limited opportunities at home and a meager harvest from their small plots of land, these women often choose to work as housekeepers in urban middle-class households rather than remain idle and underfed. They often leave without informing their families, relying on intermediaries to find work in cities like Delhi and Mumbai. They face significant risks and have little control over their employment conditions, wages, or living arrangements. Their numbers are estimated to be between three and four lakhs.
• Second Wave: This is the seasonal migration of entire families to northern states. During the monsoon season from June to December, families engage in agriculture, but the produce is insufficient to last the entire year due to a lack of irrigation for a second crop. As a result, many families migrate temporarily between January and May, leaving only elderly members behind to care for the livestock.
• Third Wave: This recent trend involves Adivasi youth moving to Southern States as casual or contract labor. Thousands work in construction sites in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as well as in farms and plantations in Kerala. They typically find work through existing contacts or are recruited in groups by contractors or middlemen.

Two main factors drive these migration trends

• Deepening Poverty: Despite India's rapid economic growth, poverty in the Adivasi regions of central India has worsened. The area's rich mineral resources, once a blessing, have become a curse as constitutional protections and legal safeguards for the Adivasi people are increasingly ignored.
• Increasing State Repression: Adivasis have resisted this exploitation, with movements against illegal land acquisitions and displacement gaining traction. Organizations and resistance groups have successfully challenged major companies like Mittal, Vedanta, and Posco, often preventing them from proceeding with their projects.