Major population of migrant workers stayed back in Kerala during lockdown: Study

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A study conducted by the Centre for Policy and Development Studies has found that out of 38.5 lakh migrant workers in Kerala, 34 lakh workers stayed back in the state during the lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Kerala shelters around 38.5 lakh migrant workers, most of whom come from West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, and only 4.5 lakh migrant laborers had left for their native lands during the nationwide lockdown.

C. Rajeev, who led the study, said that a majority of the migrant labourers had decided to stay back in the state mostly owing to the care and attention provided by their employers. He added that several of them provided them home, shelter, food and even money for their medical and other expenses.

Suhail Mohammed, a migrant from West Bengal, working in a boutique in Thiruvananthapuram, told the reporters from Indo-Asian News Service that the medical facilities are excellent in Kerala, and added, “Even if we contract the disease, we could be cured here rather than from our home place.” He also mentioned how his owner used to pay his monthly salary even when there was no work, and him and fellow migrants were provided with stay, given medical facilities, and all other provisions.