Impact of Agricultural Labour Migration Due to COVID-19 on Income and Employment: A Case Study in Mahabubnagar District of Telangana

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to examine the income and employment levels of migrant agricultural labourers during the COVID-19 pandemic period and its preceding normal period. The study was based on primary level survey conducted in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana state. Various tools like tabular analysis were employed for the analysis of data.Income levels of migrant agricultural labourers who were migrated for farm activities during COVID-19 pandemic when compared to before pandemic were compared in the study. The labourers those who were migrated for farm activities earned an average income of Rs.20,126.90 before the pandemic and it has increased to Rs.30,740.83 per year. Whereas among those who migrated to non-farm activities, during the pandemic when compared to before pandemic were earning  an average income of Rs.2,03,274.02 and it was decreased to Rs.1,32,824.98 per year. During the pandemic, some migrant agricultural labourers who migrated to both farm and non-farm activities were earned an average income of Rs.1,32,652.54 and regarding the employment levels of migrant agricultural labourers those who migrated for farm activities before and during the pandemic were for an average number of days of 48.60 man days and it was increased to 59.83 man days per year. Whereas among those who migrated to non-farm activities, during the pandemic were employed for an average number of days of 307.76 and it was decreased to 221.99 per year during the pandemic. Certain policy measures suggested from the study such as migrants should be treated as a special work group and all the required facilities such as EPF, Ration Cards and Insurance facilities etc, are to be provided to prevent the decline in standard of living and moreover during the pandemic times minimum wage act should be strictly implemented and should focus on financial inclusion.