"Trapped in Illusions: The Exploited Journey of Migrant Workers from Bihar"

This incident of migrant laborers reflects the desires, difficulties, and aspirations of people trying to provide better lives for their families and themselves. The journey of migrant laborers from Bihar to Bangalore is a sad representation of the difficulties that come with seeking financial success within this complicated structure of migration. Their stories come to life against the backdrop of crowded railway stations and varied scenes, telling a story of hope, disappointment, and resilience in the face of the difficulties of migration.

The investigation's project at the KR Puram railway station provides an insight into the complex dynamics of migration and the difficulties encountered during the journey, as well as an understanding of the lived realities of migrant laborers. Using conversations with people from Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, and the Orisa, I get an image of the diversity of goals and challenges that characterize the migrant experience. The experiences of 10 people from the Patna district, in particular villages, highlight the risks and weaknesses faced by migrant laborers, bringing to light problems including labor exploitation, poor living circumstances, and restricted access to legal help. As their tales come to light, people are forced to address the structural obstacles that support the cycles of injustice and exploitation while at the same time recognizing the determination of migrant communities striving for a better future.

My day began with a task assigned by my professor. Since I'm keen on studying migrant workers, we were tasked with conducting fieldwork to create a diary note at the KR Puram railway station. As I embarked on my fieldwork, I couldn't help but notice the bustling activity and diverse mix of people. I found myself drawn to everyone and simply engaged with them. I encountered individuals who speaking in Hindi and met many travelers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, and the Orisa. Groups of people were embarking on their journeys from here to various destinations like Howrah and Delhi. In my previous article, I addressed issues such as ticket and reservation problems. Even now, most groups from different states are traveling in general coaches, with some managing to secure confirmed tickets. Emotions among the travelers varied from joy to anxiety, with some visibly tense. As it's now afternoon, trains are arriving and departing from platforms, while passengers are either seated or moving around the station.

I encountered a group of ten people from Bihar who seemed tense. Despite my attempts to inquire about their sadness and destination, they remained silent. Eventually, one person revealed they were from Patna, so I switched to speaking in Bhojpuri, a language I know. Seeing that some of them understood the language, they began to open up. I felt anxious upon learning about their situation, sensing that something was troubling them. These people from Patna had traveled to Bangalore for a job opportunity. Before arriving here, they had participated in a job camp near Patna. Hailing mostly from marginalized and farming backgrounds, they faced limited land and economic hardships. Many worked as daily wage laborers in nearby villages and, sometimes working in other districts. Lacking education and urban awareness, they typically remained in their localities for work.

Upon hearing about a job opportunity in Bangalore through a contractor (Agent) from Patna, they eagerly registered, hoping for better prospects. The contractor promised a monthly salary of 20,000 to 25,000 rupees, along with free accommodation, Provident Fund benefits, and other amenities. The job entailed working at a company in Bangalore involved in chemical production. The assurances provided by the contractor seemed promising to them. After arriving in Bangalore, the stark reality differed greatly from what was promised. After registering with the contractor and receiving a call a month later, all of them traveled to Bangalore, experiencing work in another state for the first time. Out of the ten people, six were married and also had children, and their economic condition was precarious. To their surprise, they were charged for accommodation upon arrival, a cost that was never mentioned during recruitment.

Furthermore, the contractor kept all the workers' ATM cards, claiming bank account opening charges, as well as fees for utensils, clothes, shoes, and other deductions, reducing their salaries significantly, and this was not mentioned before joining. Despite working exhausting 12-hour shifts daily at the company, their inquiries to company representatives were met with denial and evasion. Contacting the contractor provided no relief as he simply reminded them of his initial warnings.

Their disappointment deepened when they discovered deductions from their last month's salary through mobile notifications. Visiting the bank revealed withdrawals they hadn't made, raising suspicions about the person entrusted with their ATM cards. Such financial discrepancies weren't isolated; all ten people faced similar issues, including unauthorized bank withdrawals.

With meager salaries, they struggled to afford rent, leading to confrontations with landlords. Unable to pay, they borrowed money and managed to settle rent disputes. The contractor's behavior became increasingly suspect, eventually leading to his disappearance, confirming their suspicions of being victims of a scam.

Realizing their dire situation, they decided to return to their villages, where they hoped to rebuild their lives free from exploitation.

When I asked why they weren't taking legal action against the company and the contractor, they explained that they lacked the resources and courage to face further challenges. Having already endured numerous difficulties, they felt incapable of initiating lawsuits and dealing with the associated complications. Despite their initial hopes of saving money and supporting their families back home, they encountered similar hardships in Bangalore. The contractor, once perceived as friendly and helpful from their hometown, turned out to be deceitful, making false promises and assurances.

The city of Bangalore presented a stark contrast to their expectations, as they encountered various challenges. Discrimination from local residents, unfriendly interactions with bus conductors, and the language barrier all contributed to their sense of alienation. Their earnings were insufficient to cover expenses, leaving them feeling excluded and marginalized in their new environment.?

For migrant workers, the rise in fake employment agencies and agents increases difficulties, making them more vulnerable to abuse and extending cycles of exploitation. Many migrants fall for the false promises of attractive job opportunities in urban centers, ignoring the fact that they often come from rural areas with little access to information and education. They invest their hopes and resources, only to be led into a web of fraud and abuse by promises of constant work and better livelihoods. These fake agents make use of migrant workers' lack of understanding of employment options, taking advantage of their desire for better possibilities. They often make false promises of job opportunities with attractive rewards to manipulate the hopes of weak people trying to support their families. These dishonest agents can operate with confidence due to the lack of suitable channels for employment recruitment and regulation, which feeds the cycle of fraud and exploitation.

The migrant workers, falling into fraudulent job scams can have devastating effects. They experience psychological and psychological distress due to disappointment and broken trust, in addition to financial losses from initial costs and deductions. Their difficult financial status gets worse with the time and money lost in following these false prospects, which further pushes them into debt and poverty.

In addition, the increasing number of fake employment schemes affects the image of genuine employment agencies and restricts initiatives to encourage secure and systematic migration methods. It increases the difficulties experienced by genuine job searchers in finding stable employment possibilities and reduces confidence in the formal employment market.

A comprehensive approach is needed to defeat false employment scams, including strengthening regulatory frameworks, educating immigrant populations about the risks of fraudulent hiring practices, and enabling access to reliable recruitment agencies. To tackle this widespread issue and protect the rights and welfare of migrant workers, concerted efforts to improve the accountability and openness of hiring procedures are necessary, as well as the strict implementation of laws and regulations.

• Sunil Keshav Nayar

Azim Premji University, Bengaluru