Ludhiana violence sparks exodus of migrants

After Maharashtra, migrants from Bihar are feeling the heat in Punjab.

Following the recent violence in Ludhiana, hundreds of labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (UP) have begun leaving the industrial hub of Punjab.

Worried over the development, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has dispatched a team of senior officials comprising joint labour commissioner RP Mandal and deputy labour commissioner AV Singh to take stock of the situation. The officials have been camping in Ludhiana for the past two days, interacting with various groups of migrants and state government officials.

They studied the events that led to Friday's violence and imposition of curfew subsequently and wanted the Punjab government to take immediate steps to restore confidence of and provide security to Biharis.

The reports of Bihari migrants leaving Ludhiana have spread panic among industrialists already reeling from recession.

Apex Chamber of Commerce & Industry president PD Sharma said the industry was facing its toughest challenge in recent times. "The unrest among migrants could spell doom for the industry in Ludhiana."

He said migrant workers were feeling insecure because of the rising incidents of looting at nights. "The police are not helping," Sharma said.

When trouble broke out on December 3, locals in some pockets sided with police against migrants. "Migrant labourers were beaten up and their shanties set ablaze," Sharma said, demanding a secure environment for migrants to save the state's economy.

"Agriculture is also highly dependant on migrant labour. The state government must not only ensure security to migrants but also to industrial plants," he said.

AN Mishra, president of Akhil Bharatiya Purvanchal Vikas Parishad, suggested industry leaders step in and promise migrant labourers safety.

"There are about 7 lakh migrant workers in the city. If they returned home, it will give rise to unemployment and law and order problems in their native states. The situation calls for immediate intervention by the city's industrialists," he said.

Avtar Singh, general secretary of Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertakings, Ludhiana, said the industry was already facing a labour shortage of 25% as many migrants who returned home after the recent violence had not returned.

"The chamber will try and persuade city industrialists to visit the 'vehras' of migrant workers and promise them protection from anti-socials. It's also the duty of the state government to ensure the safety of life and property of workers from Bihar and UP," he said.

Migrant workers are the backbone of both industry and agriculture in Punjab. On an average, factory workers earn Rs4,000 to Rs6,000 a month and live in dingy rooms in groups of eight to ten to save money.