Purusottam Thakur

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Our train had reached Nagpur Railway Junction. It was around noon last
December. The Jodhpur-Puri Express changes its engine at Nagpur, so it stops for a while. On the platform was a band of travellers carrying
bags on their heads. They were seasonal migrant labourers from western Odisha travelling
for work, waiting for a train to Secunderabad. After the harvest in Odisha (between
September and December), many marginal farmers and landless farm labourers leave
their homes to work at brick kilns in Telangana. Many also go to the kilns in Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, among other states. 

Ramesh (he did not want to give his full name), who was in the group, said
that the migrants were from Bargarh
and Nuapada districts. Their
long journeys from their villages start by road to Kantabanji, Harishankar or Turekala
railway stations, where they board the train to Nagpur, then change trains to reach
Secunderabad in Telangana. From there, they take shared four-wheelers to reach
the kilns. 

The labourers take an advance from a contractor (Rs. 20,000 to Rs.
60,000 for a group of three adults) just before the Nuakhai festival in August-September, when they
celebrate the harvest by offering newly grown rice to the family deity. Then, between
September and December, they go to the brick kilns, work and live there for six
months, and return before the monsoon. Sometimes, they work so hard and so long
to repay their advance, it’s a form of bonded labour.

For 25 years, I have reported on the migration of people out of Balangir, Nuapada, Bargarh and Kalahandi districts in western Odisha. In the past, they carried utensils, clothes and whatever else they needed in jute bags. This has changed to some extent – the duffel bags they carry are now made of polyester. While the migrations are still driven by agrarian distress and poverty, the labourers can now bargain with contractors for the advance amount. Two decades ago, I would see kids travelling without any clothes or just bare minimum clothing; these days, some of them wear new clothes.While state-run social benefit schemes have helped the poor to some degree, some things remain the same. The labourers still travel without reservations in overcrowded general compartments, and the journey remains very tiring. And their desperation and back-breaking labour for low wages remains the same.

From farm to kiln: such a long journey

খেতিপথাৰৰ পৰা ভাটালৈঃ এক ক্লান্তিকৰ যাত্ৰা

ಹೊಲದಿಂದ ಭಟ್ಟಿಗೆ: ಒಂದು ದೀರ್ಘ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ

കൃഷിയിടത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ചൂളയിലേക്കുള്ള നീണ്ട യാത്ര

வயல் தொடங்கி  சூளை வரை: ஒரு தொலை தூரப் பயணம்

ਖ਼ੇਤਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਭੱਠੇ ਤੱਕ: ਇੱਕ ਲੰਬੀ ਯਾਤਰਾ

খেত-খামার থেকে ইটভাটার সুদীর্ঘ যাত্রাপথ

हालात से हारकर बंधुआ मज़दूरी को मजबूर

کھیت سے بھٹّے تک: ایک طویل سفر

କୃଷିକ୍ଷେତ୍ରରୁ ଇଟାଭାଟି: ଖୁବ୍‌ ଦୀର୍ଘ ଯାତ୍ରା

शेतापासून वीटभट्टीपर्यंत : न संपणारी वाट

Nagpur

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From farm to kiln: such a long journey

Labourers from Odisha travel on foot, by road and rail to kilns in Telangana to work and pay off an advance

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