Migrant labourers live in poor conditions in Madikeri

Migrant labourers from various parts of North Karnataka, who are eking out living by working in coffee estates and construction sites, are living in poor conditions.

Many labourers reside in tents put up next to the Race Course Road in Madikeri. Braving rain and cold weather, women, children and men live in these tents.

When P T Parameshwar Nayak was the Labour Minister, he had ordered to construct a hall in the district headquarters to provide temporary shelter for the migrant labourers. However, it has not been materialised.

In the past, hundreds of labourer families were residing in tents on the land belonging to the Horticulture Department.

With the construction of a private bus stand, the tents were cleared. Now, many are residing near the hockey stadium as well.

Every year around November-December, they come to Kodagu in search of employment. They work in coffee estates, construction sites and so on. They go back to their native with the onset of monsoon.

Speaking to DH, Padmamma, from Raichur, said that they do not get any jobs during the summer. "Even if we get employment, we are not paid well. Hence, we come to Kodagu for work. As construction works are in progress in the cities, we get employment,"he added.