If you thought migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were flocking only to Mumbai and Thane for work, you are mistaken. Endemic labour shortages have forced grape farmers from Tasgaon in Sangli district to hire workers from northern states.
Tasgaon, the constituency of former home minister and senior NCP leader RR Patil, is known for producing table grapes. It sees an annual turnover of Rs 450 crore of raisins, next only to grape-and-wine capital Nashik.
The once arid, rain-fed region has seen a gradual rise in irrigation coverage, bringing more returns from agriculture. This has led to decline in distress migration from here to cities like Mumbai and Pune for work.
However, this has also caused lack of availability of workers on labour intensive grape farms, as the workforce finds it more lucrative to work on their own land, said local farmers. Local labour, which is already scarce, is available at exorbitant rates of up to Rs 500 per person, per day.
"Hence, we hire migrant workers for around Rs 25,000 per acre for three months, with one worker taking care of an acre of land," said local grape farmer and NCP leader Namdeorao Kargane. A portion of the wage goes to the labour contractors, who too hail from the northern states. Migrant workers can also be found in local hotels and industries in Sangli.
In village Manerajuri, which is 11km from Tasgaon, also known for its grapes, farmer Chandrakant Landge gushes over his migrant workers. "They work from dawn to dusk (till they can't see due to darkness). They also don't have many needs, and eat just rice and potatoes. They brush their teeth with neem twigs," he said.
Another farmer noted how these workers did not add any oil to their cuisine. Their only indulgence is apparently cooking chicken occasionally.
Locals however weren't very forthcoming on migrant workers, who number around 3,500 in the village and its vicinity, fearing retribution from sons-of-soil parties. These workers are hired via word-of-mouth publicity or through contractors.
Incidentally, Manerajuri is the home town of soldier Pandurang Salunkhe, who was awarded Mahavir Chakra for gallantry.
Shankar Mahato, who is from Saharsa in Bihar, has worked on farms in Haryana, Punjab and places near Delhi, before coming to Manerajuri. "We move around for around three months a year," said Shankar, who otherwise works as a carpenter in his village. His brother Shambhu added: "We can earn more money here. Since we are away from home, we also end up spending less and saving more."
For another Saharsa native, Suresh Choudhari, this type of job is an opportunity for "ghurmna firna" (moving around) and seeing places.
"We work from 6am to 12noon, rest for two hours and then work till we can't see in naked light," said Saroj Kumar of Madhepura in Bihar. He has also worked in Karnataka. Their only entertainment is listening to music on their phones while they work and watching movies on it later.
"When they have no work on farms, they willingly help their employers with other chores, but they have to be paid for the extra work," said Kargane, adding that local labour was hard to find, as well as costly.
"There is wage difference between locals and migrant workers," said said DP Singh, professor, Centre for Research Methodology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). These migrants "help fill the gap" between demand and supply (of labour), and there are organised groups supplying these workers, he added.
dhaval.kulkarni@dnaindia.net
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