Durana (Jind): Proof of how Haryana‘S job crisis refueled internationally human trafficking This is the story of Mandeep Singh, a 25-year-old villager from Durana, who spent Rs 32 lakh in a failed attempt to enter the US through illegal “donkey routes”. Despite spending two months in American prisons after beating “donkers” (human traffickers), his parents’ only son is determined to try again.
Harvesting paddy in his fields and packing it into bales, he said: “There are no jobs in our public or private sector, and plowing only 2.5 acres of land cannot give me my dream life.” In his village, most of the youth his age have taken the “donkey path” and Sultan was one of those exiled with them. Mandeep said: “The smugglers flogged us; it was horrible. I had sold acres of land to finance that trip. Being a relative, the agent refunded part of the payment and this time allowed me to cross the US border. Promised.
Rural goes to Haryana NRI
The newly constructed houses of Durana stink of NRI money. Village elders said that about 250 youths have migrated and only a few white-bearded people like them are left at home. Elder Sucha Singh said: “After class 12, almost every student dreams of leaving the country, and one village follows another, just like there was once a craze for the army. Not all NRIs are well settled abroad, but the money they send home inspires others.’
Amar Singh, representative of the village sarpanch (his daughter-in-law), said: “This trend started five to six years ago. Unemployment forced many villagers to sell some land to travel abroad. People who were good in studies went on the legal path, but even the average students do not want to be left behind.
Durana, a village of 3,000 with 1,800 voters, is not an isolated case. Gaurav, a village chemist, said: “Even in nearby villages Popra, Alan, Jolly and Ratauli, 80% of the youth have taken the donkey path in search of jobs. The walls of bus stands and markets in our towns are now painted with advertisements for IELTS classes and immigration agents instead of military recruitment rallies.
risking life for work
Haryanvi with ECR (Emigration check required) Legal migration for work is also being done through passport. Data presented in the Lok Sabha in December showed that most of these 3,243 people were unskilled or semi-skilled workers, and their number has increased every year – from 314 in 2020 to 1,238 by November 2023. Most of them go to the Gulf, working as drivers, laborers, masons and carpenters in Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar and the kingdom ranks 19th in foreign worker migration. Recently, many workers also moved to war-torn Israel.
exodus explained
Hundreds of criminal cases have also come to light due to the migration of youth from Haryana. As of December 2023, there were 1,494 FIRs (First Information Reports) and 1,255 arrests related to immigration fraud. Most victims are trafficked to Latin America, the UK and the US and end up in dire conditions there. Many die. surge in illegal migration This prompted the state assembly to pass the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, 2024, which includes a provision of imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh for agents involved in human trafficking.
Declining land holdings, limited government jobs, and lack of major private employers outside Gurgaon and Faridabad encourage migration. The temporary nature of army recruitment under the Agniveer Scheme has made military service less attractive. Ex-serviceman Pawan Berwal, who now runs a coaching academy in Jind, said: “Agniveer has made the Army a last resort as job security is gone. There is a new trend of going abroad despite the risks.”
‘Donkey Marg’ old issue: Khattar
Former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said there was nothing new in the Gadha Marg issue, which was recently raised by Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and opposed by the BJP for a long time. He claimed in Karnal on Friday that: “Our government has also made arrangements to send youth abroad legally, and 250 of them have already benefited. We are now thinking of counseling the youth.” Khattar further said that:
“The Ministry of External Affairs keeps an eye on why Indian youth are attracted to life abroad. It is right to adopt the legal path but it is not right to adopt the illegal path. BJP will create a record by winning the state for the third consecutive time. Union Energy Minister said, Whatever is happening in Himachal Pradesh is an internal matter of Congress. If (Bhupinder Singh) Hooda and (Kumari) Shailja share the stage, they should do it from the heart, not out of compulsion. Bhavya Narang
Haryana is a state of migration under BJP: Hooda
Former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that the BJP government has made Haryana a “migration state” from where companies, youth, businessmen and opportunities are all taking flight. He claimed during an election rally at Jakholi in Kalayat assembly seat on Saturday that:
“Businessmen are fleeing Agneepath because of extortion gangs, youth in search of jobs, farmers in search of respect and potential soldiers out of despair. The status of athletes has shifted away from the stadiums.
Stopping this flight of talent and opportunities will be the first priority of the Congress if it gets the mandate. We will drive out criminals, miscreants, drug addiction, unemployment, inflation and dictatorship.” Hooda offered one vote to three Kalayat MLAs – himself, Jaiprakash and Congress candidate Vikas Saharan. He said: “Vikas’s victory will ensure Kalayat a ministry.” Vijender Kumar
