The complex reality behind Punjab’s migrant backlash

FOR decades, large-scale migration of labour from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to Punjab has been a major socio-economic phenomenon. It has been primarily driven by the demand for low-cost labour in Punjab's agriculture sector and industry, along with the lack of economic opportunities in Bihar and UP. This migration has led to economic interdependence; but it has also sparked socio-cultural tensions.Some residents bemoan the loss of Punjabi culture as a result of residents from other states working here. When we say Punjabi culture or Punjabiyat is being impacted, we need to count the effect of such factors as wages, caste, expectations from the market, economy and migration.The primary concerns from Punjab often revolve around the perceived impact of immigrants on the state's cultural homogenisation and demography. There is a fear that the growing presence of migrants is altering the state's traditional demographic balance and distinct Punjabi culture, language and ethos ('Punjabiyat'). Perhaps religion too.The second factor is the perceived strain on the state's resources, infrastructure and public services like health and water supply, especially in rural areas. A small group feels that concerns about law and order are predominant. It associates the rise in migration with the increase in petty crime, decline in safety and law-and-order situation. Recent high-profile criminal incidents involving migrants have intensified this backlash, leading to demands for migrants to be sent back.The emotional issue of language and identity is reflected in the fear of the dominance of Hindi or Bhojpuri in migrant-dense areas. It is at times viewed as a threat to the primacy of the Punjabi language. More worrying is the growing social alienation, with some villages and localities reportedly passing resolutions asking migrants to vacate rented homes. It reflects a sense of social division and othering.The relationship between migrants and Punjab is complex. It is mutually beneficial, yet fraught with inequality. A number of issues are linked to this subject. A perusal of reports indicates a justification for the migrants' presence in Punjab due to their better adaptability for working in the hot sun, wiry physiques, short stays and willingness to work at wages lower than Punjabis.The last point is the crux. Wages. Farm workers in Punjab are predominantly what is called the Dalit labour. In fact, local Scheduled Castes labourers are deprived of economic opportunities in Punjab, which is on a higher economic plane (though it has declined of late). When this segment seeks higher wages, it causes friction as the land-owning community is unwilling to give in to their demand.Migrant labourers from Bihar, UP and elsewhere, thus, become the default option. It is only natural that migrants employed on a regular basis would stay on and build their own network. They are even welcomed by many local rural communities.Some SC activists from Punjab have been raising the issue of lack of equal economic opportunities and access to land. The sense of alienation is acute at times as poverty impacts the communities. Some SCs have migrated, but the majority are still in Punjab. The caste-cum-community-cum-aspiration angle is a deep-rooted, volatile mix.An understanding of the ground realities is essential to assess the situation. Twenty-odd years ago, I used to travel across Punjab to monitor projects related to water, irrigation, canal-lining, construction and health. Everywhere, I found that migrant workers had been hired even as the XENs, SDOs, JEs, draftsmen, contractors and their main employees were Punjabis. Our young men did not get the labourers’ jobs as they wanted much more wages and a different lifestyle.Plus, there was the sensitive issue of members of certain castes or communities being mindful of their identity and not willing to take up certain types of assignments.Mohali was coming up as a major centre of construction. So, along with government officers, I organised two training camps for plumbers and carpenters as these activities held out promise for the youth. The officials had one concern — boys from the landed community would be reluctant to join and if they did, it would be as a stepping stone for working in the Middle East, not in Punjab. This turned out to be true.The youth of Punjab expect higher wages and better quality jobs. Perhaps, it is a function of Punjab being a more developed state. Youngsters not possessing skills in conformity with market needs is a subset of such factors.We cannot wish away these realities when we discuss — at times even exaggerate — the emotive issues of migrant labour impacting the culture and ethos of Punjab. Children of many farmers are unwilling to take up labour jobs in fields, even if hiring labourers comes with a cost. The rural communities' views can be very different from those of ideologues or thinkers. Farmers are clear about their priorities and economics and the place labourers hold in their fields. Many even develop deep linkages with the families of migrants.Young men from Punjab are not opting for labour-intensive work. If they did, it would create its own demand. Markets, including for labour, abhor a vacuum and that is the fact of the matter.The poorer sections of Punjab are most impacted by such societal prejudices. A robust positive climate is needed to attract investment for the industry. Agriculture should be diversified for agribusinesses to evolve. With a cash-strapped government, funds for creating infrastructure for development could be a concern.Despite decades of migration, integration remains largely economic rather than social. Migrants often live in segregated colonies, while retaining their distinct cultural practices and languages. This limited interaction fuels the 'us-vs-them' narrative.Even as tensions between migrants and locals exist, a degree of cultural fusion, especially in cuisine and religious practices — with migrant workers frequenting local gurdwaras — is also happening, leading to a cultural enrichment. The co-existence of different cultural groups is the hallmark of a dynamic society.The structural issue of the simultaneous huge migration of Punjabi youth abroad for better prospects has created a labour vacuum. This has led to an even greater dependency on migrant workers while also increasing local resentment against the "outsiders" who seem to be replacing them.Maybe, a policy to protect the human rights, housing and integration of the migrant population is needed. When migrants face social backlash, their only protection is often legal intervention. This highlights the failure of local governance to manage the demographic change equitably. The solution lies in better and adroit social, economic and political management, not forced reversal.

The complex reality behind Punjab’s migrant backlash

Local Dalit labour seeking higher wages often finds itself displaced by migrant workers

Dinesh K Kapila

The complex reality behind Punjab’s migrant backlash

Local Dalit labour seeking higher wages often finds itself displaced by migrant workers

Dinesh K Kapila

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