Paddy growers in Punjab offer freebies to woo back migrant workers

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, June 7

From free mobile recharge to free liquor, landlords and farmers in the district are making all-out efforts to lure migrant labourers back for paddy transplantation. They are also sending buses to various destinations in UP and Bihar.

Nishan Singh, sarpanch of Basti Ram Lal village, said villagers had arranged a minibus to bring back labourers from Bihar. "They are expected to arrive here day after tomorrow," he said.

Minibus Arranged For Transport

Villagers have arranged a minibus to bring back labourers from Bihar. They are expected to arrive here on Tuesday.

Nishan Singh, Sarpanch, Basti Ram Lal village

Rajbir Singh of Basti Wakeelan Wali village said he had managed to call 27 labourers from Bihar after completing all formalities. "Labourers have arrived. Their arrival has come as a huge relief to me," he said.

Dharmendra Kumar of Pilibhit district in UP said, "We were not looked after properly by the government at our native places, so we decided to return to Punjab." Gandhar, Netrapal, Tej Bahadur and Dharampal, all of whom have come back from Bareilly, said they were sitting idle at home, so they decided to return to Punjab and earn money.

I have managed to call back 27 labourers after completing all formalities. Their arrival has come as a huge relief to me.

Rajbir, Resident, Basti Wakeelan Wali Village

Davinder Singh Sekhon, a farmer in Hakumat Singh Wala village, said he had promised a smartphone to each labourer, along with 4G Internet connection and free accommodation.

Sources said farmers were even offering free liquor, along with other freebies, to woo migrant labourers.

Harjinder Singh of Khai Pheme Ke village said even though labourers were demanding a high price for paddy transplantation, and that too in advance, farmers had no option but to cough up the amount. "The state government failed to prevent the migration of the labourers," he said.

Reason For Return

We were not looked after properly by the authorities at our native places, so we decided to return to Punjab.

Dharmendra Kumar, Labourer from UP

Labourers were asking for almost Rs 5,000 per acre for paddy transplantation. Earlier, it used to be between Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,700, said another farmer.

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