Seasonal job crisis brings woe to farm labourers

A few farm labourers of Megharam village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila return frustrated after failing to get any work as there is very little demand for their work during the ongoing off-period that will continue until the harvest of now growing IRRI-Boro paddy starts in early June. PHOTO: STAR

A good numbers of day labourers in remote villages of Teesta and Dharla river basin areas in the district are passing a hard time amid seasonal unemployment while the government's 40-day job scheme meant for the poor people during the crisis period is yet to start.
Many people are selling their labour in advance to the local farm owners for lower prices while others are borrowing money from money lenders at high interest rates.
"There are at least 50 thousand farm labourers in five upazilas of the district. Their ongoing job crisis is likely to continue until start of IRRI-boro paddy harvest in the first week of June. Now many farm labourers are going to different areas of the country in search of job," said Safayet Hossain, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension in Lalmonirhat.
Mansur Ali, 46, of Teesta River basin Char Gobordhan village in Aditmari upazila said he has already sold his labour in advance to a local farm owner for low price, as there is hardly any option during this crisis period.
“We earn Tk 250 to 300 per day for work in the farm during job period but now we are selling labour in advance for Tk 150 to 180 a day,” he added.
"I became jobless early this month. I go out of home daily but fail to get any work throughout the day,” said Sahidar Rahman, 52, a day labourer at Teesta River basin Tazpur Char village in Aditmari upazila.
Hapless farm labourers at different villages have demanded that the government start the 40-day job programme for the poor people in the district immediately.
Locals have also urged the industrialists of the country to set up mills and factories in the area for creating job opportunity in the backward region.
Lalmonirhat District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Mahasinul Haque said, "The 40-day job scheme meant for several thousand poor people during this crisis period will start immediately after getting direction from the ministry concerned. Our staffs are selecting names of beneficiaries of the scheme."