General
From Odisha’s Kandhamal district, daily wage labourers are being transported to Kerala every week through scheduled bus services. Specific buses from Kerala reportedly arrive every Tuesday, picking up men and women from villages across the district and taking them directly to worksites in the southern state.
Hundreds of young men and women are now heading to Kerala in search of employment. The entire process has become so organised that banners are being put up in various parts of the district, promoting how these buses facilitate travel to Kerala for job seekers.
Labourers Prefer Kerala For Better Wages
A returning villager said, “I returned from Kerala today. We prefer travelling by bus because it ensures a safe and direct journey. I’ve been working there for the past 17 years. The buses pick us up from our village and drop us back at the same location, which makes the process very convenient. We pay Rs 3,000 to go to Kerala and Rs 2,500 for the return journey.”
Another labourer added, “I’ve been working in Kerala for the past five years. While job opportunities do exist in Odisha, the wages here are too low. In Kerala, we earn between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200 per day, whereas in Odisha it’s probably just Rs 300 a day.”
Low Wages Under State Schemes Trigger Migration
According to reports, government schemes like MGNREGA are not providing sufficient wages for labourers in Odisha. This wage disparity continues to push workers towards distant states like Kerala in pursuit of better livelihoods and financial stability.