Now Reading: North Karnataka workers flock to Malnad for Rs 1,000 daily wage
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North Karnataka workers flock to Malnad for Rs 1,000 daily wage
A landslide in Thirthahalli, Shivamogga, killed three members of a migrant worker's family, drawing attention to a silent flow of labour from Karnataka's dry districts to its Malnad region. Workers from Koppal,…
The Story in Brief
A landslide in Thirthahalli, Shivamogga, killed three members of a migrant worker's family, drawing attention to a silent flow of labour from Karnataka's dry districts to its Malnad region. Workers from Koppal, Ballari, and Davanagere earn up to Rs 1,000 per day on areca and coffee plantations, compared to just Rs 300 at home. Employers provide food, clothes, and housing, and treat workers with respect, according to labour inspector Sukitha and plantation owner B A Ramesh Hegde. Worker Anjanappa says over 2,000 families from his district alone make the seasonal journey each year.
The Indian Opinion
The story of north Karnataka workers heading to Malnad is often reduced to a simple tale of rural-to-urban migration. But the numbers show a different reality: these workers choose plantations over cities because wages are triple and employers treat them better. The recent landslide that killed three in Thirthahalli exposes the hidden risks of this internal migration. The question now is whether plantation owners and the government will invest in safer housing and disaster planning, or if more lives will be lost before the state takes notice.
Source: deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
