Influx of migrant workers

Tirupati: While Rs 400 seems to be a meagre amount for many, migrant workers at the Nalugu Kalla Mandapam and Vaikuntapuram consider it their daily lifeline. More than a thousand workers in the temple city search for work every day for daily wages. Testing their fortune, they hope to find work or remain answerable to their empty stomach, sometimes including their family members. However, in both the cases - work or without work, often ends with a bottle of liquor!

Tirupati is not only a pilgrim city but a place of getting livelihood for many others. Migrant labourers come to the city not only from its surrounding areas but far off places in the district. The workers from neighbouring districts of Nellore, Anantapur and Kadapa also reach Tirupati in search of work.

Highlights:

• Only to work for a meagre amount of Rs 400 per day
• More often, they spend money on consuming liquor
• If no work, workers eat free meals at Ruia Hospital, SVIMS or Tiruchanur

The reason is obvious. They get more pay for their work in Tirupati. Jakaraiah, who came from a village near Nellore to work as a worker at a construction site, said that they will get only Rs 250 per day. But, here they can earn Rs 400-500 per day.

Another worker Ramanjaneyulu, who came from Anantapur district, said that he has to work as agricultural labourer and can get around Rs 250 only. Tirupati helps him to get almost double than that amount. Well, how many days in a week they find work? They can get lunch also along with coolie at workplace.

There were many workers, who came from Kadapa and Anantapur. Some came with families and others came alone. Their daily wage might have earned them good food, accommodation and savings for future. When asked about this, they were shy to speak.

However, they said in a low voice, the mason as his commission will take Rs 50 and major earnings will go to liquor shop. At the end of the day, they left with a meagre amount only. Some workers said that they could not go for work every day, as it was difficult to carry weights like stones, cement bags etc. In that case, they look for easy work but may not get it.

Every day, hundreds of labourers wait till afternoon only to go with empty hands. How can they get their food in that case? They go to Baba temple where they get free meals every afternoon. Some may even go to Ruia Hospital, SVIMS or Tiruchanur where they can get free meals served by the TTD.

They also enjoy with any little amount they saved on the previous day by going to a movie and finally consume some liquor. Most of the workers who came from outside, take shelter in the nights at the shopping complexes and other similar places with almost no protection against the weather. When asked about their savings and future, the group told in chorus, that, “this is our life. What to do?”. They think of that day only and live happily without having any worries for the next day.