A concern over migrant workers and their reverse migration
Government finally got to know about how an unorganized sector can give a lot of pain in this situation. No one ever thought about it. And very unfortunately there are no perfect or immediate solution. All the surveys,census and data from the government are not precisely done. Not an easy task though.
In every budget, we get to see schemes,subsidies to rural development and creating opportunities. In spite of ever increasing subsidies, we were never able to stall rural to urban migration. It is not only about opportunities which are attracting people to migrate, there is a societal peer pressure.
We never thought that the reverse migration would happen this way. There are so many changes to be seen in rural economy when people go back to villages after the lockdown. All may not come back to cities. Chances of leaving women and children back at home. Chances of increase in property disputes and surge of rural unemployment. We will have to face many other issues.
A country of startups with respective humble backgrounds are totally capable of taking up with these indigenous challenges. We have passion,talent and spirit to work tirelessly. However, since government have their own rule books to only handle and manage few days in their respective service periods, they always channelise through subsidy and tender process. They end up in joining hands with contractors who are ready for corruption. And bankers lend loans to only companies which make good turnover and nothing else. This is a never ending loop. Until and unless government develops their ability to identify social entrepreneurs as their partners for holistic development, there is no way to reach the needy.
Pushing conventional farming methods to lands with degradation of soil and poor irrigation are the main challenge we will face if few percentage of people turn to agriculture.
Now, if you consider any type and standard of education, it will migrate people to vibrant cities. It could be from Bangalore to San Francisco or from Saharanpur to Mumbai all are migrations. One job can give only livelihood another will give financial development. Do we need to find a way so that education should not make everyone to move?
Can our agricultural economists finally talk about demand and supply for farmers's production? Can we even think of organising a planned production with FPOs and Co-ops along with a robust supply chain? Can we activate women self help groups to some of economically viable activities rather than just lending loans for just expenses?
Food processing, selling of home cooked snacks, value addition and art products are the way to go. Can we re-think on activities such as beekeeping which can give sustainability to ecology by contributing more indigenous forest cover and rural employment. A problem is an opportunity too.
-Apoorva BV
