Ameliorating migrant’s distress

In these extraordinary times of pandemic, given the return of migrants to their villages in large numbers, the dependence on MGNREGA as a major source of employment is expected to increase manifold. However, MGNREGA to successfully prove as an instrument to reduce rural distress, some changes will have to be made in its design and implementation.

For the last one month newspapers are filled with some kind of mishaps happening with migrants labourers with their condition getting worse with every passing day. Be it’s the news of killing of 15 migrants by a train run in Maharashtra or killing of 25 migrants workers in a truck collision in Uttar Pradesh; these incidents clearly indicate towards their growing misery.

These workers are desperate to leave their present workplace and are walking back to their native places barefooted with no food and public transport operating. Although the state governments are making arrangements for their safe return to their native places by arranging specials trains; however, still that seems to be inadequate taking into account the large indigent migrants population that is adamant to return back to their home. According to the latest available government data, so far, the Indian Railways has operated 1,414 'Shramik Special' trains since May 1 and ferried around 18.5 lakh migrants home.

In the mean time for the people who are not able to arrange for themselves a train or a bus ride, were seen walking on the highways along with their children and belongings. To help them, various state governments and UTs have set up relief camps to give water, food and shelter to migrants before some arrangement is made for their transportation back to their homes. As per the latest data, “As of April 12, 37,978 relief camps providing food and shelter to 14.3 lakh migrants and other homeless labourers have already been set up by state governments and Union Territories and genuine NGOs”. Further, 26,225 food camps have also been opened giving food to nearly 1.34 crore persons.

With growing woes of migrants, various welfare measures can be taken by government to provide them immediate relief. The timely and reliable communication about the next meal or upcoming shelter and transport arrangements can prevent chaos and overcrowding at the stations or passenger pick up points. In addition, guaranteed food supply, safe shelter, access to any medical needs and money payment to migrants to cover basic expenses other than food is suggested. To this end, announcement of free 5 kgs of grains and 1 kg of pulses free for two months for migrants is a step in the right direction. Further heeding to long pending demand of, “One nation, One ration card” will enable stranded migrants and their family members to access PDS benefits from any fair Price Shop to access their ration card across the country.

Although provision of free food grains to migrants is appreciable, however, some cash payments should be made to them on monthly basis to provide for emergency needs other than food. Some economists have suggested that monthly transfer of Rs. 1000 per person as Universal Basic Income (UBI), in their accounts or cash in hand payments can make a big difference in the fight against corona crisis. In this regard, temporary implementation of Rahul Ghandhi’s proposed minimum income guarantee scheme (MIGS), formally called Nyuntam Aay Yojana(NYAY), by assuring guarantee minimum income of Rs. 6000 per month to 5 crore of the poorest families can prove to be a game changer to tide over growing despair among working poor.

With the migrants returning back to villages in large numbers, the challenge lies ahead of the government to arrange for productive employment opportunities in the rural areas.  To this end, revamping of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with greater outreach can play a vital role in reducing the woes of migrants. Already a nationwide lockdown has caused an 87% dip in person days generated under the scheme in month of April from 273.9 million in March to 35.9 million person days in April.

As part of 20 lakh crore covid19 relief package, increase in MGNREGS allocation by Rs. 40000 crore by Finance Minister is a welcome move. According to the government’s estimate, this will help generate nearly 300 crore person-days employment in total. Nonetheless, more needs to be done. Present provision of guaranteed 100 days of employment under the scheme is too less to provide enough employment avenues for returnee migrants in this extraordinary time. There is already a provision to extend the number of guaranteed days of work under the scheme from 100 to 150 at a time of drought or national calamity. Taking into account the growing miseries of migrant’s labour this year; it should be extended to 200 days of work.

Under government’s 1.7 lakh crore Covid-19 relief package announced in March, the raise in the national average per day wage rate for unskilled work under MGNREGA by 11 per cent from Rs.182 to Rs.202 for the fiscal year 2020-21 is commendable. However, it continues to be 40-50 per cent lower than the minimum wages paid to unskilled agricultural workers, which is around Rs. 347-383 per day. Thus moving ahead, to provide a more sustainable level of livelihood to the returnee migrants, government can think of giving NREGA wage rate another raise of around 10%.

Now with lockdown getting extended in phases every month, rural workers immediately need cash-in-hand. It has been frequently observed in the past that NREGA payments are frequently delayed by weeks or months. Given the present pandemic scenario, not only state government’s should release any pending wage arrears immediately, but also it is recommended that rather than online payments of wages, wage payments should be made in cash, and paid on the same day, if possible. This will not only prevent overcrowding at the banks but also would work as an incentive to rural labour to demand NREGA work. Further, for generating large scale employment under the scheme, on the spot enrolment on the worksite should be encouraged, even if the worker’s name has not been entered in advance in the e-muster rolls.

Currently, given the problems of labour shortages for farm operations especially in agricultural states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the MGNREGA workers can be employed for both kharif and rabi crops farm operations for the year 2020-21. This will not only promote rural employment and help in preserving food security for the nation, but also aid in mitigating rising cost of farm operations amid shortage of migrants labour. Further, workforce under MGNREGA can also diversify their jobs from traditional landfilling, irrigation and water conservation towards restoration of disrupted supply chains in rural areas and door to door delivery of rations in rural areas.

Going forward, MGNREGA scheme can prove to be game changer in reducing migrant’s distress. However, now the ball is in state government’s court for its proper implementation, while maintaining physical distancing measures in place so that these rural workers don’t act as vector for the spread of the disease in coming times.