Kodagu, a tiny district of the southern part of Karnataka, with unique culture and tradition is grappling with severe labour shortage. It has seen severe influx of migrants from distant states like Assam, Odisha, West Bengal, who have settled here to work as labourers. However, concerns are mounting that some of these migrants who claim to be from Assam may be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. This has sparked anxiety among the local population who fear, the potential, social and security implications of such migration.
Kodagu is a paradise for murderers, burglars and rapists, theft and no doubt the district has a huge number of crimes. Kodagu’s many coffee plantations employ thousands of migrant labourers who have been an integral part of the district’s coffee economy for over half a century now. Kodagu which accounts high amount of coffee productions always had antagonism towards outsiders.
A widely shared photo on the social media shows the dismantling branches from the coffee plant and then removing the cherry. When reprimanded, arrogant enough to state that they can earn more only if they work this way. When asked to leave they claim that they are forced to be silent as this is not their native. Most of their presence is no longer confined to plantation work. They have expanded into agriculture, trade, construction even hospitality roles such as room boys in homestays and resorts and chefs, suppliers in local hotels. These migrants reached Kodagu in the guise of labourers from north India when coffee estates faced an acute shortage of labourers. There are several migrants who have received identity cards from the government and also claim themselves as residents of Kodagu settled in and around Kodagu. When hiring an out of state wage workers, it is necessary that estate owners must check the criminal background of workers and verify their actual documents.
Kodandera Mamatha Subbaiah
