The lockdown after the outbreak of covid-19 seems to have unlocked the talents hidden in many. The wats app groups and the Facebook pages are outflowing with paintings, dance compositions, poems, short stories, music, stitching, designing and many more. The showcase is indeed full. Among those are a few who are finding a new normal in their life. A large number of them have migrated back to their native after years of working hard in foreign countries. They are distressed and anxiety grips!
The pandemic has been such a shock for many. The literates, the higher and technically educated as well as the illiterates have migrated to foreign countries aspiring for a better job and economic empowerment. The time is so unprecedented that the life of the expatriates turned topsy-turvy. A large number of expatriates lost their jobs. Thanks to the voluntary associations and the Indian community support group. Many in Kuwait and in other countries were depending on them for their daily bread.
While some of the expats continued to reside and work abroad, many others were forced to migrate back to India with worries of making their both ends meet. It is not easy for them to rebuild a life in their homeland. The repatriation would cost them more than expected. Most of them lack enough savings for future. Most of them sent their complete monthly salary to support their family, relatives and even friends. Finally, when they return back home they find it tough to find a job and capital for life.
In the midst of the turmoil, I got a message from a friend who return migrated to India. "I turned my old saree to bags. I painted on them.", There were few pictures too. They are indeed beautiful. "Could you reserve me a piece?" I could not resist. But to her surprise, a few buyers has contacted her. She promised to sell all of them.
Gayathri (not the real name though) was living as a homemaker in the Middle East for years together. Her husband was laid off and her family was forced to migrate back to India, during the times. They rented a house in their home town. Though he stayed in Gulf for more than 29 years, an own house is not a reality. Now she finds her old sewing machine lying in her parents' house. She took it to her new house as boredom was engulfing her. The stitching lessons of the teen age became handy. After cutting and stitching few bags with her torn out beige colour saree. She had carried back her fabric paints too. Now she is busy stitching and painting on sarees, blouses, salwar suits, bags, wallets and much more. Within few weeks, she could find a few customers around her. As the shops are open, she can buy her raw materials too. "I have not earned much. But now I am confident. I feel, this can take us forward", she said me. She turns her passion to a profession. It is athmanirthar (self-reliance) days ahead for.
Athmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is indeed a clarion call for a self-reliant India. They can now lean on schemes that gives a boost to job opportunities, unless scallywag political interventions take a volte-face.
Among the expatriates, 80 percent are migrants to Middle East. A majority of them are ordinary citizens who are destined for a temporary migration. Lakhs of them have returned back to India during the pandemic days. While the airports were closed, the Vande Bharat mission flights are sent for evacuation of Indians around the world. Chartered flights were also operated by some of the organisations. A few of the return migrants may re-migrate, but many others will continue to stay in their origin.
The self-reliant campaign is a ray of hope for the return migrants. May it be international or domestic. Most of them are trained in various employment sectors- may it be in IT or in travel industry, may it be in marketing or finance, may it be in engineering or cooking or any other sectors of employment. The country is in a Make in India spree and local products are being promoted. This can help the return migrants as well as boost the economy of the nation.
The skill mapping exercise under the SWADES (Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support) is a sigh of relief for many returnees. Employment is a necessity for most of them and the database of qualified citizens created based on skillset and experience will support them. They have to fill up a SWADES skill form. A SWADES card will be issued to them after that. The ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) will share the collected information with the companies. While suitable opportunity strikes a chord, they will be benefitted. The ministry is steering the NRIs through the consulates of India and other means.
The governmental schemes tailored for the rural and urban poor can stop Indians go abroad. At least, we will cease seeing Indians working in other countries as domestic labour or scavengers or in such jobs. Though Mahatma Gandhi called the serene counties as souls of the nation, the villagers dropped their employment skills generated hereditarily or by learning anew and migrated to towns, cities or to the foreign nations. Now, as the migrant issue is worsening during the last few months, the Athma Nirbhar Abhayan has formulas for strengthening those who have returned to their hamlets.
In the second tranche of the self-reliant campaign announced by the finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, there were measures for migrants. Among them were an affordable rental housing complexes under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana. State government and central government organisations, manufacturing units, industries, institutions, associations are incentivised to develop and operate Affordable Rental Housing Complexes on their private land. A house to stay peacefully is a dream that comes true for only a few expatriates.
At the juncture, following the lockdown, Uttar Pradesh turned one among the states that was worst affected by the migrant crisis. Amidst the discussions about the crisis the Prime Minister launched the Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Abhiyan. The campaign is designed to provide employment to 1.25 crore workers, which included the 30 lakh return migrant workers in the state. It also promotes local entrepreneurship. It will create job opportunities aplenty. Unemployment can be wiped if all the states follow the steps of the government. Jobs are the need of the hour for the migrants returning back to the country. And indeed the skillsets are galore among them. When the age is in dismay, the Skill India mission will give the workers a wing to fly. They can continue to aspire.
It is time to skill, reskill and upskill. Empowering themselves in skills is a driving force to success. Resources are in abundance as the teaching sessions on various subjects by schools are on the finger tips. Individuals and private organisations are also drilling them in knitting, embroidery, painting, dancing and more. Though it is a business need, learning continues.
The future demands imparting skills at every fresh step we take. Every novel addition to it will augment a chance. India’s ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship is a guiding force that takes up the co-ordination of all skill development efforts. ‘Skilled India’ has sky as the limits.
The efforts of the Bharat have a scope of bringing out the best of the citizens for the development of country. It is when we believe in our shoulders, we start to work for our own good. Here we become accountable for the prosperity of not only our family, but a nation.