Patna, (Bihar Times): The expression Bihari has become a sort of synonym to farm labourers in north and west India. But a recent study suggests that majority of the migrant labourers working in Punjab are from neighbouring states and not from Bihar as it is generally felt. Haryana  with 32.15 per cent tops the list to be followed by Uttar Pradesh 21.93 per cent while the figure for Bihar stands at 13.32 per cent.

According to a study on the Status of Local Agriculture Labour in Punjab conducted by a team from Punjabi University though the number of migrants from Bihar has increased since 1990, the proportion remains quite low compared to people from Haryana and UP.

The migration data, however, is based on the 2001 Census and reflects trends in migration till the end of the 20th century, when the fact is that migration from Bihar末not only to  Punjab but to other states too has increased much in the last couple of years.

The study not only focuses on the plight of the local labour but also reflects on the contribution of migrant labourers in the  agriculture sector of Punjab. Migrant labour constitutes 23.04 per cent of the farm work force, which also includes land owners who are engaged in farming. The proportion of migrant labour engaged in rural agriculture is as high as 58.35 per cent.

The study says a large chunk of the migrant work-force in Punjab comes as casual labourers, that is, out  of 8.19 lakh rural migrant labourers, 6.95 lakh are casual labourers. It also shows that the annual growth rate of rural migration was just 2.59 per cent during 1981 to 1991, but shot up to 4.52 per cent during 1991 to 2001.

However, the growth of migrant labour population in Punjab till 2001 was 6.32 per cent in case of Bihar, followed by 4.28 per cent from West Bengal and 3.70 per cent from UP.

The study predicts that if the present trend in migration末which has further increased recently continues, the proportion of Bihari migrant labourers would substantially increase in the state.