Patiala: Several Punjab districts are reporting a shortage of migrant workers, raising concerns over delays in grain market operations such as loading and unloading during the paddy procurement season.Arhtiyas – commission agents who facilitate procurement – cite the festival season and the recent advancement of procurement dates as the cause. They expect improvement once more workers return after Dussehra. In Sangrur, a critical grain market hub, the lack of labour has disrupted day-to-day mandi functions. Sheeshanpal Garg, president of the local arhtiya association, stressed the indispensability of migrants. “All tasks here rely on them. Without their presence, work is being badly affected. If this continues, serious difficulties are likely,” Garg warned. He pointed out that the compact 7.5-acre Sangrur market handles more grain than the 90-acre Dhuri and Suman markets. Raju, a labour union president in Sangrur grain market, said that only 300 to 400 migrant workers have arrived this season, a small fraction of the usual 5,000. Migrant worker Ravinder said that many of his colleagues stayed away due to fears over recent incidents targeting migrant communities. “I could usually bring 40, but this time, only two or three came with me,” he added. A few Punjab villages passed resolutions placing restrictions on migrants, one of them was that those without valid Punjab-issued identity documents vacate villages. The trigger was the murder of a five-year-old boy in a Hoshiarpur village in Sept, allegedly by a migrant labourer. The Commission Agents’ Union in Sangrur has since pledged full safety assurances to encourage a quick return, emphasising their personal responsibility for worker protection. Vijay Kalra, president, Federation Of Arhtiyas Association, Punjab, acknowledged the labour shortfall across several districts but anticipated a recovery in a week. Jagtar Singh Dhuri, Sangrur district arhtiya president, suggested the delays stem from the 15-day early start of procurement, which began before the traditional Oct 1 date. “Labour usually reaches in full swing from the first week of Oct. This year’s early procurement caused initial shortfalls,” Dhuri said. Satwinder Singh Saini of the Patiala Arhtiya Association reported no major shortage there, echoing the view that normalcy will return after Dussehra. Punjab relies on approximately 4.5 lakh labourers for grain market operations, plus another 2.5 lakh for its 2,500 shellers, according to former association president R S Cheema. The state’s economic model is heavily reliant on this cyclical migration from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and other states. Experts warn that a continued shortfall will bring severe management challenges in the coming weeks. Experts point out that festival seasons and recent security concerns have compounded the problem, leading to reduced labour inflow this year. Observers warn that if migrant workers do not return in substantial numbers, grain market management will face severe challenges in the coming weeks.
