Return migration of labours in bihar due to COVID-19: Status and strategies of deployment in agricultural sector

Migration of labours is one of the renowned strategies pursued by majority of Indians for their better livelihood which is increased during the last decades due to rapid urbanisation in the country. Bihar is the second largest sources of migrant workers in India. Spreading of COVID-19 and lack of its specific vaccine and control measures compelled India to follow countrywide lockdown strategy and that triggered migrants labour return back to their native pace due to jobless and hopelessness. This article seeks to understand the status of returned migrant labours and possible deployment strategies in agriculture sector in Bihar. Here, data was collected from Bihar Disaster Management Agency, other secondary sources and through telephonic survey. District and zone wise numbers of return migrants labours was estimated. Maximum migrants labours are from flood prone area of north Bihar. The manpower requirement during kharif season for rice and maize cultivation was calculated and the possibilities of deployment of return migrants were worked out. Around six hundred lakh man-days demand is estimated for agricultural activities in kharif season in Bihar. Maximum man-days requirement was observed in Zone I and minimum in Zone IIIA. The district wise and zone wise registered and estimated labour of Bihar was also presented through GIS mapping. Strategies for return migrants labours deployment in agriculture has been formulated. Farming, MGNREGS activities, food processing and small agri based industries can be helpful for engaging migrants labour in short term. Hence, this study will helpful for policy formulation of migrants labour and livelihood sustainable development.