MSME Forum writes to CM, cautions against exodus of migrants from state

The MSME Forum, with which about 2,000 small, medium and micro industries are attached, is sore over the increased protests against migrant labour in Punjab, because of which panic has gripped not just migrants but also industrialists who fear their exodus from the state. The industrialists have written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to safeguard the rights of the migrants.

Badish Jindal, president of the MSME Forum, told The Tribune that in recent incidents, Punjabis have allegedly started either bullying the migrants or there are protests against the migrant labour working here in Punjab, which is casting a shadow in the industrial hub.

In a letter written to the CM, Jindal said that more than 18 lakh migrant labourers in Punjab are playing a major role in industries, farms, shops and homes of Punjab. Today, 80 per cent of the unskilled labourers in the industries of Punjab are migrants. In Ludhiana alone, 8 lakh migrant labourers are working in industries.

He said that migrant labourers play a big role in agriculture in Punjab and most of the sowing and harvesting work is done by them. “It is because of migrant labourers that the economy of Punjab is progressing today, migrant labourers are mostly non-criminals, due to which businessmen never face any problem in working with them. But of late, migrant labourers are being expelled from Punjab as part of a conspiracy. If they are pushed back to their native lands, it will be impossible for business and industries to run smoothly in Punjab. Due to this situation, relations of Punjab with other states can also deteriorate and goods going from Punjab to other states can be stopped. Along with this, exports from Punjab can also be stopped by other states at the port,” said Jindal, adding that more than 50 lakh Punjabis live in other parts of the country and abroad, and such developments can pose a threat to them.

Jindal wrote to the CM that India is a federal country and in such a situation, residents of other states cannot be expelled from any state on the basis of citizenship. “The current protests are being held as part of a conspiracy to destroy Punjab. If due to these protests, migrant workers leave Punjab, then it is certain that Punjab and the industries will also migrate from here. That is why the Punjab government should strictly stop such incidents and not give freedom to any person to protest against migrant workers or to drive them out of here,” said Jindal, adding that even last evening, migrants were allegedly bullied by Punjabi youth and their rehris removed from BRS Nagar.

TR Mishra, one of the prominent leaders of Purvanchal Population here, said that the state government needs to protect the rights of the migrants. “They are robbed during their salary/advance days and their mobile phones, bicycles and other valuables are snatched by miscreants on different occasions. And now they are being stopped from earning their livelihood in Punjab, which is against democratic norms. If the trend is not stopped, the industry in Punjab would suffer badly,” said Mishra.