Throughout its history, the southern Indian state of Kerala has been distinguished by significant migration, both inward and outward. This phenomenon has evolved over the centuries and played a vital role in the state’s development and social dynamics. Notably, the Gulf migration that began in the 1960s following the post-colonial era profoundly impacted Kerala’s progress. Remittances from Keralites working abroad have significantly contributed to the state’s GDP. Concurrently, Kerala has also witnessed the influx of workers from other Indian states, which began in the 1980s, primarily driven by better wages, employment opportunities, and improved living conditions. In the initial stages, most of these migrants came from neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu, but later, the trend extended to encompass people from North India and the North-Eastern states. While some Tamil migrants returned due to improved conditions in Tamil Nadu, Kerala now hosts over 35 lakh inter-state migrant workers.
Shebeen Mehaboob AP aims to assess Kerala society’s perception of inter-state migrant workers and the role played by Malayalam media in shaping this perception.
A Kerala State Planning Board study reveals (1) that 17.5 lakh migrant workers are engaged in the construction sector, and 6.3 lakh work in the production sector. According to the same study, migrant workers from 194 districts across 25 states of India are working in Kerala, with 60 per cent originating from Eastern and North-Eastern states. Their employment sectors vary, with people from Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, and Assam working in the textile sector, while individuals from Nagaland often seek jobs in hotels. Migrant workers from Delhi frequently find employment in barber shops. These workers have become integral to Kerala’s social fabric, residing in areas like Perumbavoor in the Ernakulam district. Interstate migrant workers have also become an integral part of Kerala’s cultural landscape. Their language, music, and traditions are now featured in Malayalam films, plays, and cultural events.
This article aims to assess Kerala society’s perception of inter-state migrant workers and the role played by Malayalam media in shaping this perception. The media’s portrayal is seen as a reflection of societal attitudes, creating a reciprocal relationship. The article centres around a tragic incident in Aluva on July 29, 2023, where a five-year-old daughter of a migrant labourer from Bihar was brutally beaten and tortured to death by another migrant labourer from Bihar. Initially, the incident received standard news coverage, including event details, the criminal’s background, police investigations, and evidence collection. However, in the subsequent days, most Malayalam media departed from factual reporting and delved into biased reporting. Much of the content placed the blame for various troubles in the state on inter-state migrant labourers. It often contained subjective opinions and emotions of the reporters rather than objective facts. This trend was not limited to a single newspaper but was pervasive across local newspapers for over a week, with some outlets even publishing news series, special features, and editorials. While there is undeniably a lack of comprehensive government records concerning migrant workers, and their registration by employers often remains inadequate, the media’s portrayal of this issue took a fear-inducing and sensationalized turn. The focus shifted towards depicting inter-state migrant workers as potential threats to the state, perpetuating an atmosphere of apprehension.
To highlight the double-dealing in the media’s treatment of such incidents, I can mention a similar act of violence in the same area one month after the initial incident. In this case, a child from an inter-state labour family in Aluva was beaten and tortured, but there was no murder. The perpetrator, in this case, was a Kerala native. However, the media did not sensationalize or give prolonged coverage to this incident as it did with the earlier case. The article delves into how leading Malayalam newspapers like Malayalam Manorama, Deepika, Madhyamam, and Mathrbhoomi created fear and stereotypes surrounding inter-state migrant workers. Some headlines and news published in these newspapers at the outset of the Aluva Incident were prejudicial and created a negative perception of these workers. ‘Deepika’ initiated a series titled ‘Atithyam Akulam’ (Hospitality creating concerns) following the Aluva incident on August 3, 2023. The first part’s title was ‘Bhaykannam Bhaiyare’ (Be afraid, the Bhayees), using ‘Bhai’ as a general term for inter-state workers in Kerala. The title alone conveyed a prejudiced perspective. The series sought to link the spread of drugs in Kerala to HIV, blaming migrant workers.
Malayala Manorama, Kerala’s largest circulated newspaper, started a series on this topic on August 1, titled ‘Aadhiyakunna Atithyam’ (hospitality becoming Horrible), incorporating fear into the title. Metro Manorama, a supplement by the same newspaper, featured a cover story the day after the incident titled ‘crimebridge that is Criminal University,’ highlighting ‘the fears of Aluva’ and ‘Perumbavoor’s Nightmare.’ This feature unequivocally emphasized that inter-state migrant workers were a cause for concern among the native people. Malayala Manorama‘s news series is biased due to sensational language that breeds fear and mistrust of interstate migrant workers. It unjustly generalizes these workers based on the actions of a few, wrongly implying higher criminal tendencies. The series overlooks the complex issues of exploitation and abuse faced by migrants. Problematic titles like “Aadhiyakunna Atithyam” and “crimebridge that is Criminal University” reinforce distasteful stereotypes, potentially prompting discrimination and violence while impeding migrants’ access to essential services and opportunities. According to Malayala Manorama the railway bridge behind Aluva’s Municipal Town Hall, Kerala, has a history of crime, including murders. That’s why Malayala Manorama has dubbed it a “crime bridge.”
Mathrubhoomi, the second most circulated daily in Malayalam, published a report on August 3 in their Kochi edition titled “Problems caused by guest workers: whether it is enough to just be a spectator?” The report stressed that this was not an issue that the police alone could solve and suggested that people must monitor social trends and intervene before untoward incidents occur. Moreover, the report advocated sending problematic migrant workers back to their home states. The Mathrubhoomi news report is criticized for lacking specific examples of problems caused by migrant workers, implying they are troublemakers. It recommends monitoring social trends, potentially seen as encouraging surveillance. Additionally, it advocates returning “problematic migrant workers” to their home states, a discriminatory stance that overlooks their equal rights. The report is deemed biased as it negatively portrays migrant workers without substantial evidence, treating them as second-class citizens, which is unfair.
An example of incidents being exploited for sensational news published in Madhyamam Daily on July 31, titled ‘Caution also in Perumbavoor.’ This report pertained to Perumbavoor, an area with a significant population of inter-state residents. The writer emphasized the need for ‘special caution’ and noted that the roads where inter-state workers usually congregated were deserted the day after the incident. The article insinuated that this resulted from heightened police vigilance and residents’ watchfulness.
Reading this news, one naturally wonders why Perumbavoor, which is 25 km away, should be alerted after an unfortunate incident took place in Aluva. Since the violence in Aluva was perpetuated by interstate migrants, the news clearly says that Perumbavoor, where there are more such workers, should be cautious. This is nothing but biased reporting as it Makes a generalization about interstate migrants based on the actions of a small number of individuals. It also implies that interstate migrants are more likely to be violent than other people, which is not supported by evidence and Creates a sense of fear and mistrust between interstate migrants and the local community.
On August 1st, ‘Deepika’ newspaper published a similar article, with the title: “More than 5000 people from other states have sought employment in the fisheries sector,” making this the lead news. The article suggested that many of them had criminal tendencies, even though it did not provide data on the number of interstate workers in the fisheries sector. The overall message conveyed was that the large presence of inter-state migrant laborers in the fisheries sector posed a potential security threat, and readers should heed government directives. It implies that the significant presence of inter-state migrant labourers in the fisheries sector poses a security threat. Still, it does not provide any specific examples of how this is the case.
The consequences of such biased reporting were severe. The media, as a powerful influence on public opinion, contributed to heightened fear and a hostile environment for inter-state migrant workers. The fear generated by media reports resulted in violence against these workers in various parts of the state following the Aluva incident. For instance, the day after the Aluva incident migrant laborers Anchal and Sultan were attacked while having tea at a local tea shop in Aluva, where the initial incident occurred. They were assaulted by local assailants who demanded that they no longer serve them tea. The very next day, the migrant laborers were attacked by locals in Kalamassery in Ernakulam district. Muhammad Imran, a native of Uttar Pradesh, was attacked for talking loudly at the bus stop. The worker was talking to his brother.
This aggressive approach towards inter-state migrant workers is not an isolated incident. On May 14, 2023, a migrant worker from Bihar, Rajesh Manji, was killed in a mob attack in Malappuram Kirsheri, with the attack allegedly motivated by an attempted robbery. On May 29, another group launched an attack on a worker’s house in Thaliparam, Kannur district. Such incidents have been increasingly common in Kerala in recent times.
This pattern of violence is a natural consequence of the fear-mongering that has pervaded print and visual media, as well as social media, over the years. The intensity of this fear generation has only grown with each untoward incident, escalating tensions and perpetuating an environment of hostility towards inter-state migrant workers.
The government has come under significant pressure as a result of this media-induced fear and the subsequent violence. After the Aluva incident, on the second day, the police conducted inspections of camps housing inter-state migrant workers across the state. The seizure of tobacco products and other items from these places was widely reported as headline news in local publications, often sensationalized as lightning raids on major crime centers. The approach of the police and media was criticized for a lack of fairness and for invading the privacy of these workers, as many newspapers published photographs of the police checking the labor centers. Further adding to the government’s response, the Kerala Labor Minister made a statement on August 2, indicating that legislation was under consideration for inter-state workers. The minister suggested that rules for workers would be tightened, and registration processes would be intensified.
Conclusion
The concerning events surrounding the perception and portrayal of inter-state migrant workers in Kerala raise profound questions about the role of the media and the collective consciousness of the society. It is a matter of utmost importance that the media undertakes a process of introspection in this regard. The biased and sensationalistic reporting, often steeped in racial prejudice, not only exacerbates fear but also fosters an atmosphere of hostility towards fellow citizens who have migrated in search of livelihood and better prospects. As the fourth estate of our democratic system, the media has a crucial responsibility to uphold principles of fairness, objectivity, and social harmony. It must serve as a platform for constructive dialogue and understanding, rather than perpetuating stereotypes and fomenting fear. It’s essential to recognize that Keralites themselves are a migrant community, and their well-being has been inextricably linked to the remittances sent by their loved ones working as emigrants in other countries. It is a shared experience that should foster empathy and solidarity.
Furthermore, it is imperative for Kerala, as a state with a significant history of migration, to adopt a democratic and inclusive approach towards inter-state migrant workers. They are an integral part of the state’s social fabric and contribute significantly to its development. While ensuring the safety and security of all residents is of paramount importance, there should be no room for discrimination, prejudice, or hostility. The government also plays a pivotal role in this narrative. While stringent registration processes may be necessary for maintaining order and safety, these measures should be implemented with fairness, transparency, and sensitivity. The goal should be to protect the rights and well-being of all individuals within the state, regardless of their regional or social backgrounds. In a world that is increasingly interconnected, Kerala’s experience with migration should serve as a testament to the power of diversity and the potential for progress when communities come together. The challenges faced by inter-state migrant workers are challenges for the entire society, and the solutions should be rooted in unity, understanding, and justice. It is essential for all stakeholders, from media to government to civil society, to collectively work towards a more inclusive, equitable, and harmonious Kerala, where the dignity and rights of every resident are upheld and respected. This introspection and collective effort will not only safeguard the well-being of migrant workers but also strengthen the bonds of a diverse and vibrant state, Kerala, where all residents can thrive together.
Shebeen Mahaboob AP is a Senior Sub Editor at Madhyamam Daily and a Research Scholar at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. Shebeen may be reached at shabeenpdm@gmail.com.
This article was developed as part of Calcutta Research Group‘s Eighth Annual Research and Orientation Workshop on Global Protection of Migrants and Refugees.
References:
- Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment (KILE), 2020. ‘Inter-state migrant workers in kerala’ A study on their work and life. Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment (KILE), Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram
Refugee Watch Online 
Leave a comment