Mangaluru: Construction activity in Dakshina Kannada has slowed in April, as the number of migrant labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal has come down.While elections seem to be a routine trend where workers choose to go back home till voting and beyond, another factor that is keeping them close to their roots is developmental works in their own states.“Just as Mangalureans go to the Gulf for better wages, several skilled labourers would come in from states like UP and Bihar. Although those states do not have elections now, labourers head back home. One main reason was the many development works that are coming up in their home states, where they can get gainful employment and stay closer to their families,” said Satish Jogi, vice-president of the Civil Contractors’ Association, Mangaluru.Contractors said that skilled labourers — masons and plastering masons — are essential to work on multi-storey buildings. “About 50% of the construction in the city comprises high-rise or multi-storey residential and commercial buildings,” said Vinayak Pai, president, Canara Builders’ Association.The shortage is so stark that Pai said 85% of the work is coming to a grinding halt. Mangaluru has more than 100 projects under way, as per CREDAI.Ujwal D’Souza, past chairman of Association of Consulting Civil Engineers India, Mangaluru centre, had 30 skilled bar benders and shuttering carpenters working with him till the recent election season. “It is down to 11. By Saturday, they are demobilising as well. This ranges from election states to non-voting states West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,” he said, in congruence with Jogi’s evidence.Construction stakeholders said earlier, their workforce would leave during Holi or monsoon in their village and come back after a month. “But now it is too close to the beginning of rain for us, and this is the time we need to fast-track the completion of projects and the laying of foundations,” said Pai.Stakeholders said migrant construction labourers now get Rs 650 a day back home, and choose it over a Rs 1,200-plus-a-day job in the city. “This is a significant jump from Rs 200 a day that they received back home five years ago. The migrant skilled labour force makes up to 80% of the workforce, while just 20% of the workforce demand is met by locals.” “We had about 40 labourers come in usually buying quick eats — lassi, biscuits, ice-cream, soft drinks after work. Thursday they all left for home saying they would return in seven months — post election and monsoon back home. They also said they had bigger projects back home as painters, carpenters,” said a shop owner in the city.
