Biotech-KISAN Project helped Migrant Labours (Due to COVID-19) for improvement of livelihood under Biotech-KISAN Project adopted villages

Indian Migrant Labours have suffered several hardships due to the imposition of Lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic, with most of the factories and workplace closed down, they were left with no jobs and returned back to their hometowns. Some of the Labourers of villages (Aspirational Dist. Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya), adopted by Biotech- KISAN Project entitled “Establishment of Biotech-KISAN Hub at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya” sponsored by DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India (BT/KIS/123/SP30090/2018 Dated 28.01.2019) also returned back to their native home.

Following guidance from Dr. Mohd. Aslam, Adviser (Scientist ‘G’ ), DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, regarding retaining the migrant Labourers in their villages, the Biotech-KISAN Hub of Meghalaya affirmatively intervened and swung into action.

With a consultative and participatory approach, all Headmen (Sarpanches) of these eight villages adopted by Biotech-KISAN Project, were communicated to prepare the list of migrant labourers who returned to the respective villages and to send the list of migrant labourers to the Hub Facilitator. Among eight adopted villages, four villages (Mawkhan, Thadnongiaw, Mawbri and Mawlein) are having some migrant labourers, as mentioned below.

Following identification of the lockdown affected migrant labourers, the main Hub of the project (ICAR RC for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya) and partner Institute ICAR-KVK RiBhoi, Umiam, Meghalaya demonstrated on various aspects of Scientific Pig Husbandry to the migrant labourers of adopted villages. The activities were not limited to demonstration of the packages of practices on Scientific Pig Husbandry to migrant labours, but to ensure retention of the labourers in their villages and to improve their livelihood, the main Hub distributed a total of 24 numbers of   piglets to twelve  numbers of Migrant Labourers (free of cost) so that the knowledge acquired through demonstrations of Scientific Pig Husbandry, is put to practical use. Moreover, veterinary medicines, and other supporting materials were also provided to the migrant labourers residing in different villages of Aspirational District Ri- Bhoi, Meghalaya under Biotech-KISAN project. The partner Institute ICAR KVK Ri Bhoi supported the whole initiative by distributing pig feed (@ 50 kg/ migrant labour) free of cost as backstopping for the activities. In places, it was tough for Hub Facilitator, Co-PIs and project staffs to reach the migrant labourers locations due to geographical obscurity (Fig. 1 & 2), yet the facilities were extended to all of the identified migrant labourers.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

List of Migrant Labours Beneficiaries under Biotech-KISAN Project.

S.N.

Name

Village

Nos. of piglets distributed

1.

Ridursha Makri

Thadnongiaw

2

2.

Banisha Sumer

Thadnongiaw

2

3.

Jubileeksiar Syngkli

Thadnongiaw

2

4.

Ninimary Makdoh

Thadnongiaw

2

5.

Siria Sumer

Thadnongiaw

2

6.

Rebecca Rymbai

Thadnongiaw

2

7.

Valarian Nongpoh

Mawbri

2

8.

Revalfied Lyngdoh

Mawbri

2

9.

Stevenson Lyngdoh

Mawbri

2

10.

Pynshai Tynsong

Mawkhan

2

11.

Elisius Syiemlieh

Mawkhan

2

12.

Arsuklang Kharbhih

Mawlein

2

Total

24 (Twenty four)

Villages covered:

1. Thadnongiaw village, Aspirational Distt. Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya

Twelve piglets were distributed to six beneficiaries who are Migrant Labours under the Project and   pig feed (@ 50kg/ migrant labour and veterinary medicines).

Piglets & Feed distribition, Thadnongiaw village
Miss. Rebecca Rymbai
Miss. Ridurka Makri
Miss Jubileeksiar Syngkli
Miss. Ninimary Makdoh

2. Mawbri Village, Aspirational Distt. Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya

Six piglets were given to three Migrant Labours of  Mawbri village and   pig feed (@ 50kg/ migrant labour and veterinary medicines).

Piglets & Feed distribition, Thadnongiaw village
Mr. Valarian Nongpoh
Mr. Revalfied Lyngdoh
Mr. Stevenson Lyngdoh

3. Mawkhan village, Aspirational Distt. Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya

Four nos. of piglets were given to two Migrant Labours from Mawkhan village, Aspirational Distt. Ri Bhoi.  along with pig feed and veterinary medicines.

Piglets & Feed distribition, Thadnongiaw village
Mr. Pynshai Tynsong
Mr.Elisius Syiemlieh

4. Mawlein village, Aspirational District, Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya

Two piglets along with 50kg pig feed and veterinary medicines given to one Migrant worker residing in Mawlein village, Ri Bhoi.

Mr.  Arsuklang Kharbhih- piglets & feed distribution

All migrant labourers thanked DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam Meghalaya and partner Institute ICAR-KVK RiBhoi, Umiam, Meghalaya to come forward to help and support to migrant labourers during this period of unemployment due to COVID-19 and given them an opportunity to earn.