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. 2List 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 Makdoh2. 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 Lyngdoh3. 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 Syiemlieh4. 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 distributionAll 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.