Dal Khalsa's convention on migrant labour problem on 14th Dec, 03 at Amritsar have set the alarm bells ringing. The convention presided by S. Harcharanjit Singh Dhami, working president of the Dal Khalsa gave a call to the people of the state to wake up before its too late. Prominent amongst those who addressed the gathering of around 450 activists of the organization, were Satnam Singh, Kanwar Pal Singh, Dalbir Singh Bath, Iqbal Singh Mann, Inderjit Singh, Sarbjit Singh and Dr Manjinder Singh. Speakers after speakers urged Sikhs to reduce their dependency and make the youth aware of our culture, traditions and ethos, which are being denigrated by the influx of migrants from other states. Kanwar Pal Singh, General secretary of the party and organizer of the function read the Keynote address.



This convention is a "wake up call" for all concerned against the sheer number of migration from Bihar & UP to Punjab. We feel the influx of migrants has had a serious socio-economic-cultural ramification on Sikhs in particular and Punjab in general.

The issue has reached an alarming position and it is time for all us to undertake a deeper study to assess the real implications of the problem. We had already waited a long and this migration has not halted. Rather the intensity of the migration has doubled. Now we are impatient to tackle this menace. We have to respond to this problem by seeking every possible way as we are acutely aware that the problem as a potential to create anarchy and unrest in the state. We are witnessing the explosive situation that has now developed in the northeast and Maharashtra because of over-burden of the migrants.



According to a preliminary study by the Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana), nearly one tenth of the total population of the state is migrant labour. Another survey by the same university is startling. It says that the migrants are earning app. 3000 crores per annum and out of it they were remitting back two-third of their earnings to their native places.

The origin of current migration can be traced back to the days of green revolution. But it has increased many times in the post-militancy period as compared to 1983-84. More than 22 lac migrants have got settled in various parts of the state but they have consolidated themselves mostly in industrial towns as compared to other cities. The ratio of migrant labour against locals is app 80:20 in the case of industrial sector and 70:30 in respect of agricultural sector. We had conducted study in Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Ropar. You name it, whether is textile, industry, manufacturing, sugar mills, brick kilns, construction, agriculture, everywhere Bihari labourers have outnumbered to locals. A large army of migrant labour has reduced the employment opportunities and prospects of the Punjabi labour.

According to another study conducted by Professors of PAU namely M S Sidhu, P S Rangi and Karam Singh, around 55 percent of the agricultural labourers had expressed their willingness to settle here permanently, where as this figure was about 11 percent in 1983-84. More recently, the percentage has gone to 78 who are in a mood to settle here permanently.

Spirit behind Punjabi Suba stands defeated Above all, with the influx of migrants, the spirit behind the formation of Punjabi Suba stands defeated. We are convinced that the influx of migrants is being 'managed' by Congress and the BJP to push the Sikhs to become a minority in Punjab itself. We can safely predict that the problem would tend to disturb the demographic chart in the state in the coming years, which in due course could become a serious threat to Sikh identity. We had inside information that the leaders of the Punjab unit of BJP are patronizing the migrants to consolidate their vote-bank. The days are not far when we would have Bihar origin MLA's.



The migrants have brought social evils along with them. Tobacco, commonly found with migrants of Bihar and UP have reached to the countryside of the state. Our youth had taken to chewing of tobacco and numbers of addicts are in lakhs. Contrary to our youth who had fled to West in search of green pastures, these migrants has not adopted Punjab's culture. Rather they are polluting our culture.

Slum (illegal) areas have been constructed in the periphery of all major cities in sheer violation of law of the land. Administrations had turned blind eye to encroachments and slums.

According to Health department report, a transmission of skin disease is also because of the influx. Cases of exploitation of women in rural and urban areas are little known. We had reliable information that crimes of such nature are going unreported. Moreover, the crime rate has increased even in rural areas manifold. Incidents of thefts, hooliganism and murders have been largely reported in the media. In most of the cases, migrant labourers are involved. We had studied the case of village Pheruman where a Professor Anokh Singh and his young daughter was hacked to death by unidentified migrants who worked as a construction labourer in the house few weeks before the incidents took place.

We have a grudge against the previous as well as present Punjab government for not taking the problem with a serious view. Even today, instead of contributing some good for the welfare and growth of the people of the state both the chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh and leader of the opposition Mr Parkash Singh Badal are engaged in a shadowboxing. "Neither Amrinder Singh is serious in fighting against corruption nor Badal alone is corrupt in this present political system". Had Amrinder Singh being serious, he would have not inducted corrupt ministers like Mr Lal Singh, Ramesh Dutt Sharma and many others in his cabinet. The on-going fight is not against corruption but it's a fight between two "royals".



We had a word of suggestion for Capt Amrinder Singh: forget about Badal's corruption, it is rooted in the Indian political system. Show maturity and wisdom. The fundamental task before "your" government is to safeguard the larger interests of the state that is being undermined by the influx of migrants. The state must realize its responsibility before its too late. We seek:

• The state government should promulgate an Act, which fixes the upper limit of the percentage of jobs for non-Punjabis Residents in all enterprises in the state whether private or public sector. Under no circumstances should this exceed twenty percent.
• Many states have barred outsiders from purchasing immovable properties in their states. The same legislation in Punjab should be enacted.
• State must regulate and monitor the influx of the labourers. At all bus stands and railway stations there must be Registration offices for migrants.
• Similarly, health department must introduce quarantine measures.
• Illegal jhugees (slum areas) should not be allowed to come up in any part of the state.

Reduce dependency. Make no mistake dependency is a slow poisoning. Don't allow yourselves to be swayed away by immediate personal gains. Make the youth aware of our culture, traditions and ethos, which are being denigrated under the influence of the migrant labour. Capt Amrinder must pay heed to the words of Lt Col A P S Dhillon from Chandigarh who is on record saying; "Nobody can deny that migration of labour is a natural phenomenon reflecting demand for manpower. However, no country permits unchecked influx of migrants. It is imperative to legislate no-settlement laws applicable to migrants. No schemes should ever be promoted to settle migrants in Punjab. Let the Central government settle them in their home towns".

• To prepare a white paper on the problem within a span of three months taking all aspects into consideration.
• To prepare a documentary film to mobilize the masses and create awareness amongst them.