Two-thirds of migrants have returned to cities or wish to do so

Nearly two-thirds of migrant workers who had left for their homes due to the coronavirus lockdown have either returned to cities or wish to do so in the absence of skilled employment in villages, according to a new study that surveyed over 4,500 households.

The collaborative study on "How is the Hinterland Unlocking" was carried out by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India), Action for Social Advancement, Grameen Sahara, i-Saksham, PRADAN, SAATHI-UP, SeSTA, Seva Mandir and Transform Rural India Foundation, VikasAnvesh Foundation and Sambodhi.

The study is based on a rapid assessment survey of 4,835 households across 48 districts in 11 states carried out between June 24 and July 8.

It found that 29 percent of migrants who had left for their villages are now back in cities, while 45 percent want to return.

"Absence of skilled employment in villages is reflected in the fact that nearly two-thirds of the returned migrants have either migrated again or wish to do so," it said.

The study also found that migrants who returned were engaged mainly in labour work in villages, more than 80 percent of them.

"More than one-fourth of the migrant workers are still searching for work in villages," it said.

According to the survey, one in every four households is thinking of taking their child out of school (24 percent).

"Though distress is still considerable, structural changes are not yet visible and the health risk of Covid-19 in rural India is rising," the survey warned.

The study found that 43 percent of households still reported a reduction in meals, while 55 percent said they have reduced the meal items.

However, it said, there was a "marked improvement" in food intake in comparison to the lockdown period.

"... it is likely that grain availability through PDS (public distribution system) has helped households improve the consumption as well as reduce the need to buy from the market," it noted.

The study found that about 6 percent of participants have mortgaged household items, while 15 percent sold their livestock to cope with financial distress.

With regard to sale of productive assets, the study found that 2 percent of households have sold dry cattle and milk cattle each.

About 2 percent have mortgaged their land, while one percent of surveyed households have sold their land.

About 10 percent of households have borrowed money from their extended families, while 7 percent borrowed from money lenders, the study found.

The survey found that women in households where migrant members have returned shouldered more workload compared to other members.

On government schemes, the study found that 71 percent of households have LPG and 85 percent of them got it through the 'Ujjwala Yojana'.

"Eighty percent of Ujjwala beneficiaries have received free refills in the last month (June 2020), while 90 percent households are eligible for PM-KISAN and 38 percent of those have received the transfer of Rs 2,000," it said.

The study found that 35 percent of households have postponed a ceremony and 13 percent reduced the number of guests instead.

Released at a webinar on Monday, the study was aimed at making an assessment of the effect of the lockdown on rural households.

It focussed mainly on areas of reverse migration, food security, kharif season practices, drudgery faced by the women in households, and borrowing and asset sales.