Eye-opener for Punjabis: Migrants doing well invest in city

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 16

While a majority of the youth in Punjab, especially those from the rural areas, find “overseas” best for greener pastures, the migrant population, who settled here for long, have started investing in properties in the industrial capital of Punjab with sheer hard work and savings. Though the price of land in the city and surrounding areas is exorbitant, still many migrants have been able to buy small plots of 50 to 200 square yard here.

Meet Chottu (people call him Chottu out of affection), a tea vendor outside the State Bank of India Treasury Branch, who left his native place around 15 to 16 years ago.

Today, he has got a 50 square yard plot at Haibowal Kalan, on which he has constructed a small house. “It has been over a 15 years since I settled in Ludhiana. I am a tea vendor. My two sons and two daughters were too small when we shifted here from the UP,” said Chottu.

Like Chottu, there are many examples. A gardener by profession, Ram Bahadur, has been here for the past 20 years. Today, he is proud owner of two plots, including the one on Tajpur Road and another in Phillaur. The value of both plots is Rs 10 lakh.

“I have earned, saved and purchased plots because my entire family wants to settle here. But I have yet to construct a house on one of these plots. I am saving money for that,” said Bahadur.

Hundreds of migrants have done good and invested here in Ludhiana where price of land is skyrocketing. Commenting on their dedication and hard work, a social activist Pappo Abnash said her driver was also from the UP. He had bought property here near Alamgir, she added.

“When these persons can earn good livelihood here then why our own Punjabi youths want to go abroad. Every job requires hard work and focus, but Punjabis have got into drug addiction, which is unfortunate. It is better to try our luck here than dreaming of going abroad and doing well there,” said Abnash.