Migration gives girls a taste of independence

After finishing her Class 12, Shalini Das decided to step out of the protected environment of her home in a small hamlet in Odisha’s Kendrapada district and shift to state capital Bhubaneswar to look for work. Her father had abandoned her mother when she was born and the older woman had raised Shalini into a strong adult in spite of the crushing poverty and social struggles. “My father had wanted a son so he left us as soon as I was born. My mother worked as a farm labourer and she had to face many difficulties to raise me. It is my turn to take care of her,” Shalini says, emotionally.

It was an uncle who informed her of a possible opening in a marine export company in the city and she decided to take the leap of faith. “I got a position in the peeling section of the factory. Initially, I did not like the work much. Cleaning shrimps is not easy as one has to use a small blade to do it and my hands are always stinking. However, it’s been four months and I have decided to stick to this job. I feel happy when I am able to send my mother some money,” she says with a bright smile.

Not just Shalini, there are several women, single, married, separated and widowed, who are not afraid of taking a chance and moving bag and baggage for better work-life opportunities. While earlier female migration in the country was solely governed by social and familial compulsions, today, women are increasingly moving to find their own space, identity and self-confidence.

Indeed, these educated youngsters usually come from the countryside to the city because they do not find any suitable work near home and are in dire need of money. And once they are here, they love the sense of accomplishment they experience when they make it big own their own steam. “If you have passed Class 10 or even studied up to Class 8, there are no employment opportunities at the village level. You simply have to migrate to cities to earn. Some of our friends in the village have gone to cities in other states, too – like Bengaluru and Chennai. Most find work either in garment or marine export factories. I preferred to come to Bhubaneswar,” shares Shalini.

In Odisha, there is major production and export of seafood and the marine export businesses employ women in large numbers. “Unlike men, women are more productive, dedicated to their job and execute the processing work properly,” says Rajendra Kumar Rout, Manager, Falcon Marine Export Limited, Bhubaneswar.

Most new recruits start off in the peeling section and then later on, depending on their performance, they are upgraded to grading, checking, and packaging. “Seafood is a perishable commodity so we call women to work in shifts. For their accommodation, we have set up a hostel adjacent to the factory itself. The beginners get a salary of Rs 6,000 per month. It rises to Rs 10,000 besides other benefits,” he informs.

Lata Behera was in her teens when both her parents passed away. She was living with her brother and sister-in-law, and was responsible for taking care of the home. “I didn’t like staying with them. To them, I was just an unpaid servant. When I became older, they were not even interested in getting me married,” recalls an angry Lata, who is now in her 30s.

It was through a contractor that she came to know of Falcon Marine Exports and these days she, like Das, is working in the peeling section, making a tidy Rs 6,000. “Ever since I have started making money, I have a newfound self-confidence. Moreover, the attitude of my family members and relatives has changed considerably. They don’t take me for granted anymore,” she states.

What about marriage; does she plan to settle down soon? She says, “At present, I have no such plans. But if and when I get a suitable partner, I will surely like to have my own home and family.”

Migrating from the village has proved to be a good move for Shalini and Lata. Although it was a daunting transition, they are happy with their decision. “In the village, girls live under severe constraints. We don’t even get to go to the cinema. We are told to stay at home, work and watch TV if we want to relax,” relates Kalpana, who belongs to Ranpur in Nayagarh district. She finished her Class 10 and then decided to shift to Bhubaneswar to find work. “My father is paralysed and my mother toils away day and night as a labourer. I have one elder sister who is married. As I have done my schooling, my parents hope I will be able to support the family,” she elaborates.

If financial pressures prompted Kalpana to move, Dipika Barla of Deogarh district’s Tileibanei block came to town to pursue her dream. “I had always wanted to live in a city. A few years back, some girls from my village Prabhasuni went to Bengaluru to work in garment factories. When they came back during their holidays, wearing nice clothes and with fancy mobile phones, I decided to see what it would be like for me,” says Dipika.

Naturally, at the first chance she got she came to Bhubaneswar to join Falcon Marine Exports. Having worked hard, she has managed to save up to buy her very own smart phone, which she is very proud to show off. “I am thrilled because here, I do whatever I want to do. After finishing my shift, I watch movies or go shopping,” says the 18-year-old, who has just finished her Class 10.

According to Dr Sabita Acharya, director of Women Studies, Utkal University, this kind of feminisation of migration is a positive development. She explains, “In rural areas single women (mostly deserted or widowed) live in difficult situations. Moving away from their conservative milieu gives them an opportunity to earn a decent livelihood and lead a respectful life. They become confident and learn to make their own decisions.”

It’s true that while women may be moving to cities for different reasons, the outcome for many has been life-changing – and in a good way.