Patna: Bihar will create job opportunities for migrants heading back to the state, labour minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said Saturday, even as he asserted that the situation has changed and many may not come back as economic activities have picked up in many sectors across the country.
In an interview to ThePrint, Sinha said Bihar is fully geared up to handle the migrant workers if they decide to stay back in the state after returning. However, he maintained that if the workers “get a better opportunity and better pay, they would naturally want to go for that” as no one “wants to let go of such opportunities and no government can stop that”.
Sinha also said that Bihar is reviewing labour laws in the state to give a push to industrial activity.
Covid-19 is a “different kind of pandemic” which has impacted the entire country, but it will also serve as a new learning experience, he said.
On migration from the state, he said it started before the NDA government first came to power. Edited excerpts:
Also read: Vande Bharat vs Bharat ke bande: Can Narendra Modi be losing his political touch so soon?
On how Bihar will handle the migrant crisis
The Bihar government had earlier said that it expecting around 27 lakh migrants to return to the state. During the conversation, labour minister Vijay Kumar Sinha asserted that the state can manage this crisis.
“Bihar is a labour intensive state, it is a densely populated state. The Bihar government is fully prepared to tackle this issue. Bihar has faced many pandemics in the past. This pandemic is different but is also a new challenge and experience,” he said.
“Initially it seemed like many people were going to return but the situation has changed now. You must have seen at many places, trains were cancelled after being booked as work activities have started in many sectors. This has happened in a number of states. At the same time, work activities have started at many places. So in those places the chances of workers coming back is very low,” Sinha said.
The Bihar labour minister also pointed out that the possibility of all 27 lakh returning was quite low. “But still we are fully prepared to handle those who are returning, especially the skilled labourers. We are making all arrangements and creating job opportunities for them,” he said.
“Whether it is the water sector, irrigation, MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), we are hoping to create better job opportunities for them in all these sectors. It is good that these people will get jobs. It is also a time when more workforce is required in Bihar,” he added.
However, officials in the Bihar government don’t share Sinha’s confidence. Many pointed out to ThePrint that providing migrant workers with food and shelter for a short period is sustainable, but providing job opportunities will be a challenge in the long run.
According to a senior state government official, the government is looking at the possibility of providing livelihood to the migrants under MGNREGA in rural areas and under other local development works including laying roads, footpaths in urban areas as short-term measures.
“But if they decide to stay back and not return we will have to rethink our policy completely and it will put pressure on the existing infrastructure,” said a second Bihar government official who didn’t wish to be named.
Also read: Railways told to take ‘abundant precaution’ after 16 migrants were run over on tracks
On labour laws
Asked about plans to make changes to the current labour laws in Bihar to attract industry, as has been done by BJP-run states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Vijay Kumar Sinha said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is examining the issue and an announcement will be made soon.
“Our chief minister has been carrying out a review of what all changes are required in the labour laws because in Bihar the number of labourers is quite high. We will create better opportunities for the industries too.”
The labour minister said the government is considering every possibility, including skill development.
“We are looking at all aspects. As I said earlier, this pandemic is a new experience for us and the government is making arrangements for a new working environment keeping this pandemic in mind. When the situation will become normal there will be better opportunities and this pandemic will also lead to greater opportunities for the labourers,” he said.
On migration
Asked about migration from Bihar, the labour minister said it took place before the NDA government first came to power in the state.
“Most of the migration happened before the previous NDA government (in 2005). Before that most of them used to live in Bihar as there were better opportunities here. Even today, since the NDA returned to power (in 2015), the opportunity for work has increased and the number of people migrating has come down,” he said.
“Once people will settle down in their work, chances of them going back will be less. But everyone looks for better opportunities so this cycle will continue,” he added.
Despite the government estimates of 27 lakh returning migrants, the minister said it was difficult to come up with numbers as a number of students go to various states to study and then start working there, and a large chunk of unorganised sector workers also head to other parts of the country.
“The disaster management department is looking after it so we are reviewing it and it is only after reviewing that we will be able to answer it,” he said.
Also read: ‘Can’t allow jungle raj’ — RSS wing says UP, MP labour law changes bigger pandemic than Covid