Madikeri :
They have worked in the tea gardens of Assam but in Madikeri they are tending the Coffee plants. Labourers from Assam working in coffee plantations in Kodagu have become a common sight since the past two years.
It is in south Kodagu that more number of Assamese labourers find work in houses and estates.
A few days ago, nearly 200 people arrived from Assam and were divided in teams to meet the demands of the local agents.
According to the labour department officials, there are seven labour camps in and around Kodagu where these people stay.
A few big planters will host some of the Assamese labourers in their own camps in the estates.
In Kodagu, over the years, shortage of labourers have been very severe and existing workers have been demanding more salary and benefits. In 2011, the acute shortage of labour and the high demands of local labourers had put the planters in a spot.
Earlier, the planters were getting labourers from Sullia in Dakshina Kannada and Arasikere in Hassan district, but the Assamese labour comes much cheaper than the usual lot, the officials added.
A labour contractor from Dakshina Kannada, Rajappa Gowda, who takes labourers from Sullia and Puttur every week, says Kodagu has a heavy demand for labourers.
Many escape the labour work in the estates and get into more cozier jobs as servants at home-stays.
But the migrants tend to stay for longer as they get all the benefits, from schooling for their children and higher social security.
Former vice-chairman of Coffee Board of India, Bose Mandanna, told Express that though Assamese workers do not know the scientific work of coffee cultivation, those who settle here learn how to spray, borer tracing and other works. Since all migrants show records like BPL cards, voter IDs and other records, it is the responsibility of the officials to trace fake cards, he says.
However, according to Codava National Council president N U Nachappa, these workers are all Bangaldeshis possessing fake documents. He recalled the protests held early this year urging officials to verify the labourers’ antecedents.
A coffee planter from Gonikoppa told Express, “Since we are getting Assamese labour, demand for more salary from workers who come from far away places cease.”
Another planter from Suntikoppa in Somwarpet taluk said many estates would run into trouble if the Assamese labour did not flow into Kodagu.
The police department have asked all coffee growers to check the documents and collect photos of workers and their family members and submit copies to them without fail.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / August 24th, 2015
