Jun Taki

Soon after Arunachal Pradesh went into lockdown on March 23 and the subsequent nationwide lockdown in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, mass exodus of migrant labourer population unofficially quoted to be over a lakh has brought the capital to a virtual standstill. This is indicative of the state’s total dependence on migrant labour force.
On a normal day, hordes of labourers line up the streets in and around the Ganga area of the Capital Complex every morning, waiting to be picked for the day's work. Since lockdown, there are no labourers to be found. Migrant labourers have moved to their native towns and their absence is causing economic losses; several key projects are on pause; labour cost have sky rocketed as much as by nearly 50 percent.
It is estimated that more than 50,000 migrants were employed in the capital itself, excluding the organized sector labourers and the casual workers working in various government departments. 

Capital Superintendent of Police, Tumme Amo who is looking after the migrant movement informed that a total of 17800 had left the city after the lockdown came into effect. “Above figures comprise workers originally from the neighbouring districts of Assam and there may be thousands who fled without knowledge of the administration using alternate routes via jungles or crossing rivers during the first two phases of the lockdown.” 
Predicting that the exodus would not end anytime soon, the top cop says that the labour crisis may worsen further in coming days.  
The lockdown which led to fast dissipating labour population has resulted in significant hike in wages and also construction materials proving a double whammy.
“The shortfall of labourers has created a big gap between demand-supply, thus spiking up the rate of labour cost of both skilled and semi-skilled workforce to Rs 700 and Rs 500 excluding lunch and refreshments. In spite of such high rates, workforce is hard to find, leaving several government and private projects in limbo,” informed a civil contractor.
The scene is no different across government departments who are straining allocated departmental budgets in these extraordinary times. “Not only my department but other government departments are facing the heat of reverse migration,” said Assistant Engineer, PWD, Division-3/A, Jummy Taba adding that the labour shortage is further compounded by the rapidly rising labour costs and sudden spike in prices of construction materials which are straining the allocated departmental budgets.

Making most of the situation, several hundred meagrely paid casual workers employed with the government are being lured away by the private contractors with better pays.
 “Several projects are running behind schedule, material costs have escalated,” said AE, PWD Sub Division (1/A) Neelam Mama. He recalls an instance where a particular labourer had to perform various tasks ranging from operating construction machinery to mixing sand to finish a road resurfacing work.
The normal daily rate of unskilled manual labourers which was Rs 500–550 before lockdown has increased to Rs 750–800 and even the rates of masonry works have shot considerably upwards. Material costs have also seen an upswing: a cement bag which before the lockdown had a price less than Rs 400 has gone up to Rs 500 and the price of per kg rod has also risen from  Rs 45  to Rs 60. 
In all this, the Urban Development & Housing Department seems to be faring better than its counterparts with most of its key projects either completed or on verge of completion.
”Our workers are presently engaged in the roofing works of Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at Naharlagun which is at the final stage and the stadium at Yupia is about to be completed soon and the construction work of the stadiums at Pasighat, Ziro and Daporijo are already completed,” Executive Engineer Gyamar Tachung informed, mentioning that construction of the MLA apartment at Chimpu has been completed and the Dorjee Khandu Badminton Academy is underway. Admitting that labour shortage has slowed down the pace of infrastructural work, he however asserted that despite all odds the department is able to keep the construction activities running without diluting the SOPs.
The construction of two Jawahar  Navodaya  Vidyalayas (JNVs) in the state has been delayed due to the prolonged lockdown and labour shortages, informs Chief Engineer Urban Development and Housing,  T Darang. 
No one can say for sure when “normalcy” of pre-lockdown times will return. But if the current situation is a yardstick, we are in for a long haul.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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