Sowing paddy:Punjabi labourers rarely available for work in fields

Jaswant Shetra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 21

With the beginning of the paddy season, farmers are facing labour crunch. As Punjabi labourers are rarely available to work in fields for different reasons, farmers are running after migrant labourers to hire them to sow paddy in their fields.

The main reason behind Punjabi labourers not willing to work in fields is that they have taken up other occupations. Besides, the new generation of Punjabi labourers is no more interested in working in fields. Rather it prefers to do other odd jobs in cities. As a result, farmers are completely dependent on migrant labourers.

The sowing has started a bit late due to government instructions to farmers not to sow paddy before June 20. As little time is left for farmers to sow paddy, they are rushing to hire migrant labourers.

They are visiting railway stations and bus stands to hire migrants arriving from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for sowing paddy crop in fields. As labourers disembark from trains or buses, farmers rush in a bid to woo and hire them for working in their fields.

Similar instances can be witnessed at the railway stations and bus stands in Ludhiana and Jagraon where many farmers can be seen waiting for migrant labourers to hire them for sowing paddy in their fields.

Farmers are even ready to shell out extra bucks to hire migrants to complete paddy sowing work on time.

“I have come here to hire labourers for sowing paddy in my fields. As Punjabi labourers are rarely available to work in fields these days, we are completely dependent on migrants to get our work done,” said Gurinder Singh, a farmer from Issewal village, who was present at the Ludhiana railway station to hire migrant labourers.

Hardeep Singh Galib of Bharti Kisan Union Ekta (Dakondha) confirmed that farmers were facing shortage of local labourers for the past few years.

“Punjabi labourers, especially their new generation, is no more interested in working in fields. Instead they opt for other jobs in cities. This has made farmers completely dependent on migrant labourers for their farm-related works. Farmers are even ready to pay more to hire migrant labourers and get their job done,” said Galib.