Migration of Bastar tribals to other states rocks Chg Assembly

The issue of migration of a large number of tribals from Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bastar region to neighbouring states in search of jobs as labourers caused uproar in the Legislative Assembly today with the opposition Congress accusing the BJP government of "apathy".
Raising the issue through a call attention motion notice, ruling BJP MLA Santosh Bafna said the State has been witnessing a large scale migration of people of Bastar region to other states in search of jobs.
"Everyday, a large number of labourers migrate through buses en route to Hyderabad from Bastar. They migrate through agents," Bafna said.
He said around a dozen girls of Salepal area under Kodenar police station limits of Bastar were taken by agents to Andhra Pradesh's Prakasham district for working at a road construction site six months back. "Two of them died in January this year," Bafna said.

He alleged that government is negligent on the issue despite "several incidents of death" of workers migrated from Bastar were reported in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
"People from Bastar are still migrating due to reckless attitude and negligent behaviour of the government towards them," the MLA said.

In his reply, Labour Minister Bhaiyalal Rajwade admitted about the migration.
"It is true that labourers from Bastar migrate by themselves in search of jobs to the neighbouring states, but it is incorrect that a huge number of labourers are taken daily by agents in buses headed towards Hyderabad," he said.
Rajwade said teams of labour inspectors carry out frequent inspections at local bus stands to prevent forced mass exodus of people.

"During the inspection no (case of) migration through agents or contractors was found," the minister added.
He said jobs are being provided under MNREGA in Bastar.
"In year 2015-16, construction works worth Rs 9136.17 lakh were sanctioned which ensured jobs to 63,217 labourers in Bastar district. Similarly, development works to the tune of Rs 1017.65 lakhs were allocated in Tokapal janpad panchayat which provided jobs to 6443 labourers.
"Besides, construction works worth Rs 2062.35 lakh were sanctioned in Bakawand block which created jobs for 13256 workers," he said.
Unsatisfied with his reply, Congress MLAs, including Kawasi Lakhma (Konta) and Deepak Baij (Chitrkot) of Bastar region, alleged that people are forced to migrate due to lack of jobs and "apathetic attitude of state administration".

Later shouting slogans against the state government, the Congress legislators staged a walkout.