SRIKAKULAM: Though the government is spending huge amounts to provide employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), workers in Srikakulam district are migrating to the metros and Godavari and Krishna river delta area for work. From Srikakulam district, known for its skilled workforce, nearly 2.5 lakh people leave their villages and spend nine months in a year elsewhere as migrant workers.
Double wages and free food and accommodation are attracting labourers to shift to Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad as workers in construction and other areas. From East Godavari to Nellore districts, 35 percent of total agricultural labourers are from Srikakulam district during both Khariff and Rabi seasons.
During 19952005, the migration reached its peak with nearly 70 percent of workers moving to various places. A good number of them even went to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
However, from 2005 onwards, all the 7,000 odd tanks in the district are full and with plenty of water, a majority of the workers returned as the extent of cultivation increased. During offseason, NREGS works supported them. However, the district is witnessing an exodus of workers again owing to drought now. Also, construction activity increased in urban areas and contractors and construction companies are offering several sops to workers.
Currently, there are about 4.65 NREGS job cards in the district and `200 crore worth works have been executed by the District Water Management Authority (DWMA).
However, 1.85 lakh workers again left their respective places to the other locations in the current fiscal. "Yes, it is true that the workers are migrating from the district. I am sure. Good income elsewhere is the reasons behind it," says A Kalyana Chakravarthi, project Director of DWMA. Thavitinaidu and Ramunaidu of Santhakaviti mandal, who are currently working in Visakhapatnam with a civil labourer contractor, say they are getting Rs 220 per day, besides free food and accommodation.
"If, we work under NREGS at our place, we will get about Rs 80/100 per day. That is also only for a limited period. The rest of the time there is no work. But here, we are even saving money and sending it our families," Thavitinaidu told Express. Those working as a construction labourers at Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad earn Rs 300 per day plus free food and accommodation.