Rumors and fake news about migrant workers in Tamil Nadu Officers who have been attacked have seen prompt intervention by employees assuring them of their safety. Several workers, mostly from Bihar, at railway stations waiting to go to their home states after a video clip of violence between two groups of migrant workers was interpreted by locals as an attack on migrant workers. Has been observed. In any case, some workers were planning to go home for Holi celebrations. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin did well to reach out to his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar before the problem became serious. Elsewhere too, prompt follow-up action has been taken. The Tamil Nadu police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against the rumour-mongers, including the editor of Dainik Bhaskar. A person has been arrested for sharing a misleading video clip in Bihar’s Jamui district. Bihar Police has also found some videos and news reports to be misleading and fake. Officials from Bihar and Jharkhand have visited migrant centers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur, and industry representatives are doing their part to reassure workers.
Unfortunately, this issue has given way to anarchist politics in Tamil Nadu and Bihar. The role of migrant workers in various sectors of economic activity in Tamil Nadu, especially real estate, is well known. According to CREDAI Tamil Nadu, the expatriate community handles 85% of the work in large projects and 70% in medium scale projects. It also has a clear presence in manufacturing, textiles, construction and hospitality. A 2015 Tamil Nadu Labor Department survey estimated that there were about 11.5 lakh migrant workers in the state. This episode has only highlighted the need for politicians to exercise caution and restraint while commenting on the issues of migrant workers. Under the guise of protecting the interests of the local people, many politicians have often demonized migrant workers or held them responsible for problems such as unemployment among the local people. The message, as underlined by Mr. Stalin in his conversation with Mr. Nitish Kumar, that “workers who help in the development of the state are our workers”, should be imbibed by all political parties across the spectrum . Also, the government, which is taking welfare measures for the community, should include the supply of pulses and edible oil at subsidized rates under the public distribution system, which is being given under ‘One Nation One Ration Card’. ‘ Plan. A special wing may be formed to address the issues and problems faced by the migrants. The government can also conduct a new and comprehensive study of migrant workers and help them integrate with the local community, so that they feel at home.