MP tribals migrating under stamp paper contracts:Forced into bonded labour in neighbouring states amid job scarcity; face abuse violence in return

After years of battling malnutrition, the tribal-dominated Khalwa block in Madhya Pradesh is now facing a new crisis — mass migration. Thousands of people are leaving their villages for work in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa and Gujarat. With no steady jobs at home, even entire families are signing work agreements on stamp paper to labour in other states. Many migrants face exploitation, violence and bonded labour, while villages are left deserted with only the elderly and children behind. Migration after Diwali Every year, after the Diwali festival, people from Khalwa leave their villages. Once the soybean harvest ends, there is no work left locally. Many travel to Karnataka and Maharashtra for sugarcane harvesting, while others go to Goa and Gujarat for construction jobs. Entire families move together, and some are bound by advance payment contracts. The exodus is so large that many villages now appear empty, with livestock and small children left in the care of the elderly. 90% of villagers leave for work Khalwa block, in Khandwa district, has a population of around 2.5 lakh people, spread across 86 gram panchayats and 147 villages. The block is bordered by Harda, Betul, Burhanpur, and Maharashtra.Officials estimate that 90% of villagers migrate for employment every year. Only a few villages, such as Khalwa, Ashapur, Khar and Sawalikheda, remain partly populated. The main cause is lack of job opportunities in the region. Locals say they are forced to move as agriculture and MNREGA work are insufficient. Migration on legal agreements A Dainik Bhaskar investigation found that migration often happens under written contracts. For example, Hiralal Kajle, a resident of Adakheda village, signed an agreement with Lingeshwar Eknath Shinde from Solapur, Maharashtra.According to the deal, 10 couples (20 people) agreed to work in Karnataka and Maharashtra for sugarcane harvesting. Each couple received Rs 50,000 in advance, totalling Rs 5 lakh. Advocate Jagdish Patel, President of Harsud Bar Association, said about 200 such cases are registered at Khalwa every year. He estimated that nearly 2,000 contracts are made annually across notaries in the area, each involving between 20 and 200 labourers. Villages turn into ghost towns In Junapani village, five kilometres from Khalwa, Dainik Bhaskar found empty streets and locked houses.Only children and a few elderly people were visible. Villager Kailash said most families have left due to no local work. Baliram, another villager, said MNREGA work is available for only one or two weeks a year, and wages are delayed for months. Many workers therefore move out for better pay. Most migrants belong to the Korku tribal community. Politically, Khalwa comes under the Harsud Assembly constituency. Local MLA Vijay Shah has represented the area for 40 years and is currently the State Minister for Tribal Affairs. The local MP, Durgadas Uikey, holds the Union Tribal Affairs portfolio. Entire families work together During sugarcane harvesting, whole families work jointly in the fields, earning collective income. They also receive advance payments before leaving. Authorities are trying to link local farmers to the “Ek Bagiya, Maa Ke Naam” (A Garden in Mother’s Name) scheme. The goal is to provide fixed wages to around 300 farmers, reducing the need for migration. Better pay in other states According to District Panchayat CEO Dr Nagarjun B. Gowda, workers in Khalwa receive 150 days of MNREGA employment, compared to 100 days in other blocks.However, the daily wage under MNREGA is only Rs 261, while labourers earn Rs 800–1,000 a day in other states. This huge wage gap continues to drive migration. Exploitation and crimes during migration 1. Labourer murdered in Harda On 20 October 2025, Sukhlal Kalme (45) from Imlidhana village was murdered by a farmer in Harda district. Sukhlal had threatened to quit after his employer refused to pay wages.Farmer Malik Ramdeen (58) from Lalmati village gave Sukhlal alcohol and then beat him to death with a stick.The Sirali Police arrested Malik and sent him to jail. 2. Minor girl raped, 6 months pregnant In another case, a minor girl from Khalwa was repeatedly raped for months while working outside the state.When her family filed a missing person’s report on 23 October, the girl was found six months pregnant. The accused was arrested under rape and POCSO Act charges and sent to jail. 3. Rape and Murder Case Ends in Acquittal On 30 January 2013, a nine-year-old girl of a labourer from Khalwa went missing in Surgaon Joshi village near Khandwa. Her body was found the next day, and medical reports confirmed rape. A man named Anokhilal was accused and sentenced to death within three months by the lower court. The High Court upheld the verdict, but the Supreme Court later acquitted him based on DNA evidence. Official response Authorities say efforts are being made to improve local employment.But with poor wages and irregular MNREGA work, tribal migration remains a severe problem, pushing families into unsafe and exploitative conditions every year.