The great migration debate

Ever since the “vadakkan” issue was hot topic in TN, this question kept ringing in mind. The concept of people moving from their native for greener pastures has been noted as one of the key factors contributing to economic growth, not just of the migrant group, but of the regions involved as well. If I remember right, Future Shock by Toffler also spoke on something similar, I guess. I even related it with some of my friends who’ve been more successful considering that they’ve changed 3 states and multiple places within same city and different cities as their job took them along. All said and done, there was a significant point that was made by one of the Youtuber on why the people from North are finding favor down south, the reason being the cost factor. The migrants are paid about a tenth of what is being paid to locals came out as a consistent reason from many observers. It was a commonsense point that obviously the wages decided the laborers not just in these cases but everywhere world over. Take the Latin Americans in USA or the Asians in UK and other parts of Europe. Typically, these migrant laborers hold fort on certain sections or work functions that either fall under too menial or too niche category. But considering the huge number of people who are already holding those functions, it is virtually impossible to replace them with local or any other population in short/medium term. And the cost involved is also a significant factor, considering that for the low-end jobs they are hardly paid on the same scale as a local for the minimum wage and other legal provisions are usually skipped while employing the migrants. Either they are undocumented and even if properly documented resident, they live in perennial fear of law enforcement agencies often giving them the step motherly treatment and above everything the awareness about their rights is rarely with this group. Replace this population on the Western countries with any household in India or anywhere else in the world, the situation remains the same. Even if you are aware of your legal rights, people often keep quiet or forced to keep quiet in the larger interest of the larger population, who would bear the insults and injuries in the name of livelihood. Many people undergo these ill treatments and troubles festered on them, sheerily under the economic pressure. What if the employers ignore them for future work if they raise their voice. What if they don’t have a job tomorrow because they asked for better treatment. There are several other existential “what if”s that keep them muted forever. In our own households the salary we pay for our maids and those who do handyman work is a glaring example which shows the mirror back to us. Will we employ that electrician or plumber or cleaning agency or iron man if we get to know of someone who does same quality work for a cheaper rate? Of course, cost is an important factor every where and not the only factor – theoretically. But for all practical purpose, this is the way of the world and has been this way ever since!! The issue sounds serious when people put a spin on the rights of the generations of these migrants like voting rights, right to representation etc. That is where political parties make a killing by driving a wedge between the “son of the soil” vs “alien”. It is shameful and painful that such debates are taking more and more center stage nowadays and have become crucial and critical discussion items, leading to decision making points! For a country like India, which culturally is akin to an amalgamation of 35 plus countries, the alien vs native debate will lead to an impossible scenario. There has been no answer to this question any where in the world and sub dividing countries in the name of self-rule has only created more problem. Coming together as one has solved many things, helped in achieving many things. But getting a separate entity or separatism as a movement has rarely won anything in the long term. “Thirikadal odiyum thiraviyam thedu” – cross the oceans and earn your wealth has been the undercurrent theme of our lifestyle since ancient days. Classification of people as migrants and otherwise is dead wrong against our cultural principles and it applies more now than ever.