In developing countries like India, there are various factors that lead to migration like poverty, unemployment, natural calamities and underdevelopment at the place of origin. Rural emigration is a survival strategy which is caused by unfavorable economic and social conditions of the backward areas. However, the impact of migration has mostly been observed as positive and comes as a remedy toalleviate poverty, inequality and contribute to economic growth anddevelopment.

It has come to notice   that the tribal population of Thakurmunda block of Mayurbhanj District of Odisha continues to migrate to Bangalore, Gujarat&Chennai for their livelihood as they do not get employment throughout the year in their native place. In Myurbhanjadistrict, about 57.87% of the total population consists of the tribal communities, like Santal, Munda, Bathudi, and Saunti tribes.

As per a recently conducted baseline survey by the CYSD Community Health Volunteers, 49% of the total population are farmers (depends on monsoon), 26% are daily laborers and others are migrant labourers. Thus agricultural activity alone does not support the tribal families for round the year and they look for alternative opportunities of earning livelihood. The region is gripped under poverty, illiteracy and underdevelopment. This grim situation compels the tribal population to migrate to urbans  in search of employment and for survival. The study team further explored to know about causes of migration, impact of migration and  the difficulties faced during the migration from the migrant workers of Thakurmunda block, who were detained in Temporary Medical Center (TMC) for quarantine after returning from Gujarat.

RajendraNaik, 24 years, son of late FashiNaik from TalaSahi of Kendujiani village of Kendujiani Gram panchayat of Thakurmunda Block of MayurbhanjaDistrict is one of the returnee migrants quarantined at the TMC. 9 years  ago he was migrated to Gujurat  for employment.  His father died of phthisis (Pulmonary Tuberculosis), when he was only 13. He had to manage the household and the family consisting of two younger brothers, one sister, mother&grandparents.Their agricultural land too was small  to manage a six-member family round the year. So, his mother Durgiworked as daily wage earner inneighboringvillages.Rajendra was forced to discontinue his education after Std. VII and supplemented to the family income by joining daily labour. Rajendra’s story reflects so many intricacies of socio-economic-cultural factors that lead to mass exodus from rural to suburbs and urbans.

In Kendujiani Gram panchayat besidesagricultural activities, other employment opportunitiesare unheard of. In such a situation, migration has become an obligatory choice for the poor& suppressedtribals. It has been observed that many poor tribal families prefer to continue short term migration after the harvesting season for 3 – 4 monthsevery year to nearer urbans like, Balaesore and Bhadrak. This is called seasonal migration.However in case of Rajendra and many like him, financial constraints and household requisites compelled him to migrate to Gujurat with a distant relative in search of job and work as daily labour in a polythene packets producing factory.

While Rajendra was asked, he says sorrowfully, “I used to send around Rs. 2500 – 4500to my mother on monthly basis through money order to meet the siblings’ educationalneeds and medical expenses.But, this Covid-19 pandemic situation has divested our lives and livelihoods”.

The analysis further reveals that families of migrant workers also faced significant issues in the absence of male counterparts. Women from the migrant households, with their revised gender roles, endure double the workload and suffer regular loss of entitlements, owing to unequal treatment. So, Rajendra’s mother and family had to face added vulnerabilities related to safety, nutrition, hygiene and health. However, after his swab test, he was found COVID-19 negative. Now, after all this drill Rajendra is living with hisfamily members but facing the same pecuniary issues. Howsoever, the counselling support from CYSD volunteers has helped him get engagedin MGNRGA work.