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Migration Mess: No jobs in hand amid food crisis, Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa witnesses tribal exodus

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4 years ago

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Adivasis from the region move to other states for employment, only to find themselves worked to the bone, living in grim conditions and often cheated of their wages or held hostage by employers.

“I have a wife and five daughters, but there’s no work in the village. Even if you find some, the panchayat takes months to pay us,” said 35-year-old Poonamchand Sitaram Gautam, a resident of Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh, who recently returned from Koratala in Telangana, where he was employed as a construction worker.

“Under the Public Distribution System, we receive just 5 kg of foodgrains for each member of the family every month. But these rations barely last a fortnight,” he added, alluding to the food crisis in his tribal-dominated village of Dabhia in the state’s Khalwa region.

Based on a field study conducted in 12 states by Ekta Parishad, Madhya Pradesh is purported to have the highest inter-state migration rate — standing at 32.39 per cent, Khandwa being one of the districts leading. According to estimates by a local body, between 5,000 and 10,000 tribals migrate out of Khalwa every year to work as labourers in other states.

Khalwa is spread over 70 to 100 km from the district headquarters. While many villages of this block are part of the Khandwa-Betul State Highway, most of Khalwa falls under the jurisdiction of the forest department, with 90 per cent of the population living in remote areas. In fact, when 101Reporters visited Dabhia, we found that at least two members from each house had migrated to other states for work.

Last year, Gautam’s 16-year-old daughter Garima found work as a labourer to build drains under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). After working eight hours a day for five weeks, Garima was paid only two weeks’ worth of wages. When her mother Rajni Bai questioned the panchayat, she was told that the money had been transferred to her account, but they have yet to receive it.

Jamna Kallu Chauhan, too, shared her woes. “In the last two weeks, I carried out digging work for the panchayat eight hours a day. But I was paid only for one week. I approached the panchayat office in Semliya repeatedly, but no one cooperated with me,” the 60-year-old said.

The sarpanch of Semliya panchayat Pyari Bai Ramesh Takher, however, denied any outstanding payments.

“No labourer’s wages are outstanding with the panchayat,” she claimed. “The money has been transferred into their accounts. The villagers often withdraw money and blame us later.”

No logic to the numbers

Kishore Kumar Uike, the CEO of Janpad panchayat, insisted that the district is continually opening up job opportunities for the area’s local residents.

“Janpad panchayat has created employment for 17,000 labourers in the development block,” he said. “I don’t understand why people are migrating for work. Even today, if anyone approaches us for work through the panchayat or district, we will provide them with work.”

According to the MGNREGA website, which currently seems inaccessible, 3,821 days of wages were generated in Khalwa from May 2020 to May 2021, benefiting 644 workers. The work given to labourers included pond construction, canal deepening and dam checks. The website has had no updates since then.

A hunger-induced distress migration

According to Prakash Michael, treasurer of the Spandan Samajseva Samiti, an organisation working to provide nutrition and employment to these tribals, the primary cause for migration is the food crisis in the region, which has increased in the last couple of decades.

“Adivasis have ditched growing traditional crops and turned to cash crops such as soybean. Bajra and other millets such as koda and kutki, once the backbone of their nutrition, are no longer visible in the fields. They use most of the money they earn by selling produce to repay loans. They are left with very little foodgrains, so this is basically hunger-induced distress migration,” Michael told 101Reporters.

This explanation holds true for 60-year-old Jamna, who now lives alone in her hut. Her husband, Kallu Chauhan, had “taken up a contractual job of harvesting moong in Nahali, Harda district, despite being terribly ill. The family’s financial crisis had pushed him to move, and within three days, we lost him to the illness.”

One lakh labourers migrate from Nimar

While the administration has no official figures to share, Spandan Samajseva Samiti, which collects data for land surveys, estimates that around 1 lakh people from Khandwa, Khargone, Barwani and Burhanpur of Nimar district migrate to Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa and Andhra Pradesh each year.

However, this large workforce is unorganised and unprotected. These labourers are neither insured by their employers, nor are they provided safety equipment for use while working. This often leads to their death, and since there are no official records of migrant labourers, employers shirk their responsibilities by deeming them mere accidents.

Under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, the employer must provide migrant workers with food, lodging, healthcare and social activities. Labour officials must be kept in the loop to ensure that workers’ rights are not violated. Also, the figures of migrant workers must be displayed on the Migrant Labourer Portal, though no data appears to track this information.

District Labour Officer S.S. Alawa explained that the act “can be invoked only if the contractors or residents officially inform the department about their migration, which the tribals here fail to do. Hence, they cannot exercise any rights under this law”.

Wily contractors, callous employers

Furthermore, contractors here deploy locals to connect them with labourers. These people take advantage of their knowledge of the Korku dialect and lure the tribals by promising large sums of money as wages. They are often paid an advance so they believe it’s a good deal and manage to convince their friends and neighbours, too.

On the appointed day, the contractor’s vehicle arrives at the village to transport the migrants. The journey usually takes place at night, so the workers don’t recognise where they are being taken. They often don’t find out for days and weeks which village, district or state they are working in. The contractor shares his mobile number to placate the families, but the phone is often turned off once they set out with the migrant labourers.

Daji Lofa, a 30-year-old who returned from harvesting sugarcane in Maharashtra, recalls a contractor who had come to the village before Diwali last year and promised everyone cane-cutting work for three months. He had also promised them huge amounts of money, which would enable them to stay home without working for the rest of the year. He had paid an advance of Rs 7,000 to one of the workers. A week after Diwali, the contractor arrived at 11 pm with two mini Eichers and took 40 people with him. But they were refused pay after putting in hours of hard labour.

Such are the kinds of experiences that the tribals of Khandwa attempt to flee.

Babu Mangal, one of the workers from Khalwa held hostage in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, last year, said they were treated worse than animals. He, along with his wife, had to continue harvesting sugarcane despite being terribly ill.

“We didn’t get any treatment when we were ill. We had to arrange for our own food and sleep in the open fields or inside warehouses,” the 50-year-old told 101Reporters.

Similarly, when Sunita Kajle from Langoti village went to Maharashtra to work, she found out she was pregnant. But she was still forced to continue working long hours without relief or proper nutrition until the sixth month of her pregnancy. As a result, she gave birth to a malnourished daughter after returning.

In some cases, the tribals bear the consequences of this survival act — the migration — longer than they could have anticipated, at times for life.

Take Munni Bai, for instance. She injured herself while working at a brick kiln and continues to live with it. She had dropped bricks on her feet, which initially caused swelling and later became worse. Munni can no longer work due to her injured leg and has received no compensation from neither the contractor nor the government.

Socio-economic factors

Khandwa district has a population of 13,10,061, of which 80.20 per cent live in villages. The literacy rate of Khalwa is only 43.10 per cent (51 per cent among males and 34 per cent among females). Despite this, the proportion of labour in Khalwa is 17.38 per cent, of which 9.66 per cent is male and 7.72 per cent female. Agriculture is the primary source of income, but the people here barely own any land, 2 acres per family on an average.

The percentage of total agricultural farmers in the tehsil is 14.08 per cent in Khalwa, of which 9.88 per cent are male and 4.20 per cent are female. There’s no focus on employment-oriented education, and the entire sector is dependent on resources from agriculture and forests.

In 2009-2010, the state government had created natural resource-related jobs in Awliya under the Small Forest Produce Association, for the manufacture of incense sticks, perfumes, bamboo furniture and household items. Initially, over a 100 people were employed under this scheme, but they could not grow beyond making incense sticks, which wasn’t financially viable and hence, discontinued.

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Crime

Crossed all limits of barbarity: Congress on Begusarai gang-rape

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1 day ago

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June 20, 2026

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New Delhi, June 20: Reacting to the gang-rape and brutalisation of a woman in Bihar’s Begusarai district, the Congress on Saturday termed the incident deeply shameful and unfortunate, saying it had crossed all limits of barbarity.

Speaking to MEDIA, Congress MP Manoj Kumar said, “The incident that has occurred there is deeply shameful and unfortunate. The governance and administration in Bihar have failed completely. They are merely making hollow claims and making promises, while the morale of criminals remains high.”

Questioning the state government’s handling of law and order, he asked, “Who is responsible for all of this? Who is responsible for such an inhuman act?”

Referring to reports surrounding the incident, Kumar said, “It is being said that the woman had gone to the police station seeking protection before the crime took place. She was helpless. The accused subjected her to extreme cruelty. Her hands were restrained, and she was brutally assaulted.”

He further alleged that such incidents have become increasingly common in the state.

“Such things are happening frequently in Bihar. Incidents of crime against women are reported almost every day. However, the kind of brutality seen in this case has crossed all limits of barbarity,” he said.

The Congress leader also questioned the silence of those who claim to champion women’s rights.

“Bihar has traditionally been a state that respects women. Why are those who once spoke about women’s dignity silent today?” he asked.

Recalling debates around the Women’s Reservation Bill, Kumar said, “A few months ago, several special discussions were held in Parliament regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill. Women MPs and leaders came out in support of the legislation and accused us of being against women’s rights. Today, the question is: Who is in power in Bihar, and what action are they taking to ensure women’s safety?”

Meanwhile, the investigation into the heinous gang-rape and brutalisation of a woman in Bihar’s Begusarai district, that is reminiscent of the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case in the national Capital, intensified on Friday. Senior officials of Bihar Police launched a detailed enquiry into the shocking case and took disciplinary action against the Chakia SHO Rajiv Ranjan on Friday, for negligence.

The case, which pertains to an incident reported in the Chakia police station area on the night of June 11, gained widespread attention after allegations surfaced that a bullet, piece of wood and a stone were later recovered from the victim’s private parts during medical treatment.

Begusarai Range DIG, Shailesh Kumar Sinha, visited the victim at Sadar Hospital and met her family members to gather information about the horrific crime.

He also reviewed the progress of the investigation with police officials and sought details regarding the action taken so far in the case.

The DIG subsequently held discussions with the medical team, including the Civil Surgeon, and obtained a detailed briefing on the victim’s examination and treatment.

In a significant administrative action, Chakia SHO Rajiv Ranjan has been suspended.

According to the DIG, preliminary findings indicated negligence in handling the case, prompting departmental action against SHO Rajiv Ranjan.

Police have registered an FIR in connection with the case and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to identify and arrest the accused.

Senior officers, including the DIG and district police officials, have inspected the alleged crime scene as part of the ongoing investigation.

Officials stated that a fresh medical examination has been conducted by a medical Board, and investigators are awaiting the final report, which is expected to play a crucial role in determining the next course of action.

The police have assured that all accused people involved in the crime will be arrested and brought to justice.

Investigators are examining evidence, recording statements, and verifying all aspects of the case.

Authorities have emphasised that further legal and departmental action will be taken based on the findings of the medical report and the SIT’s investigation.

The case has generated widespread public concern and drawn attention to the handling of crimes against women in Bihar, with senior officials closely monitoring the developments in the case.

According to an official, the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Chakiya police station on the night of June 11.

The 30-year-old woman had stepped out of her home to use the toilet when she was allegedly intercepted by five men, who forcibly dragged her to a secluded location, tied her hands and legs with her clothes and gang-raped her.

In a show of cruelty and depravity, the rapists inserted a cartridge, wood, and a stone into the hapless woman’s her private parts.

The woman’s family has also accused the local police of failing to respond appropriately and sending them back home when they first attempted to lodge a complaint in the case.

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Crime

CBI to challenge acquittal of all accused in Nimbalkar murder case in High Court

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1 day ago

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June 20, 2026

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Mumbai, June 20: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday said it will challenge before the Bombay High Court the acquittal of all accused in the high-profile murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver.

A special CBI court in Mumbai acquitted all the accused, including former Maharashtra Home Minister and ex-NCP MP Padamsinh Bajirao Patil, citing a lack of reliable evidence and extending the benefit of doubt to the accused.

Pawanraje Nimbalkar, a prominent Congress leader, and his driver were shot dead in broad daylight on June 3, 2006, in Navi Mumbai. The case was subsequently transferred to the CBI on the directions of the Bombay High Court.

Following an extensive investigation, the CBI filed its charge sheet in 2009 and a supplementary charge sheet in 2010 against nine accused persons, including Padamsinh Patil. During the trial, one of the accused turned approver and became a key prosecution witness.

In its judgment, the trial court held that the testimony of the prosecution’s star witness was not sufficiently credible to sustain a conviction. The court observed that the witness had repeatedly changed his statements and that there were material contradictions in his version.

“A conviction cannot be based solely on the testimony of this witness,” the court noted, adding that although the approver was a crucial link in the prosecution’s case, his evidence could not be relied upon because of persistent inconsistencies.

The court further observed that contradictions in the witness’s statements undermined the prosecution’s conspiracy theory and ultimately granted the accused the benefit of doubt, leading to their acquittal.

The CBI, however, maintained that it had produced strong evidence against the accused and said that it would challenge the verdict before the Bombay High Court.

Among those acquitted was Padamsinh Patil, 86, who was alleged by the CBI to be the principal conspirator behind the killings. Patil, who is also Nimbalkar’s first cousin, arrived at the court in a wheelchair, accompanied by a hospital attendant.

Padamsinh Patil was arrested by the CBI in June 2009 and was granted bail by the Alibaug Sessions Court later that year. With the trial court now acquitting all the accused, the case is set to enter a new legal phase as the CBI prepares to challenge the verdict before the Bombay High Court.

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Crime

Two snatchers, auto-lifters arrested by Delhi Police; two stolen vehicles recovered

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1 day ago

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June 20, 2026

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New Delhi, June 20: The Crack Team of Anand Vihar Police Station in Delhi’s Shahdara district has arrested two alleged snatchers and auto-lifters and recovered two stolen two-wheelers from their possession, police said on Saturday.

In view of the recent rise in incidents of snatching and motor vehicle theft in Shahdara district, the Crack Team of PS Anand Vihar was assigned the task of identifying and apprehending active offenders operating in the area.

A dedicated police team comprising Head Constables Lokesh, Sonu and Pradeep, along with Constable Gourav, was constituted under the close supervision of Inspector Manish Kumar, SHO of Anand Vihar Police Station, and ACP Vivek Vihar Mohinder Singh. The operation was carried out under the overall guidance of Shahdara District Police.

On June 18, while conducting routine patrol duty near Manglam Road in AGCR Enclave, the police team noticed two suspicious youths riding a CT-100 motorcycle without a registration number plate. The suspects were stopped and asked to produce ownership documents for the vehicle. However, they failed to provide any valid papers and appeared visibly nervous during questioning.

Upon verification, the motorcycle was found to be a stolen vehicle linked to E-FIR No. 013864/26, dated June 16, registered under Section 305(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Farsh Bazar Police Station. Both individuals were immediately taken into custody.

During sustained interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to stealing the recovered CT-100 motorcycle from the Farsh Bazar area on June 16. They further disclosed that they had stolen a Honda Activa scooter from the same area on June 13. Acting on their disclosure, police recovered the scooter from near CBD Ground in Shahdara. The scooter was found to be linked to E-FIR No. 013519/26, dated June 13, 2026, registered under Section 305(b) BNS at Farsh Bazar Police Station.

Police said the accused admitted that the stolen two-wheelers were being used to commit snatching incidents across different parts of Shahdara district. They also confessed to their involvement in FIR No. 208/26, registered under Sections 304(2) and 3(5) of the BNS at Anand Vihar Police Station in connection with a snatching case.

The accused have been identified as Ritik, 21, and Atul, 18, both residents of Vishwas Nagar in Shahdara, Delhi. During questioning, they reportedly told investigators that they committed the offences for financial gain and to meet their personal needs.

The police recovered one stolen CT-100 motorcycle bearing registration number DL7SCD-99XX and one stolen Honda Activa scooter bearing registration number DL5SBA-6XX8.

According to police, the arrests have helped solve multiple motor vehicle theft cases registered at Anand Vihar and Farsh Bazar police stations, in addition to a snatching case registered at Anand Vihar Police Station.

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