PURNIA, Aug. 22 -- Babloo Rishi (40), a migrant labourer, returned from Punjab two weeks ago to his native village to get employed in makhana harvesting. A resident of Teghra village falling under Dagarua police station in Bihar's Purnia, Babloo is a migrant labourer but for the last two years, he comes back to his native place during makhana harvesting in July and stays here with his family till October. Quite upbeat over his earning during three to four months, he said, "I earn much more here than in Punjab during this season." "I earn Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000 daily during makhana harvesting season from August to October. Someone can earn even more; it depends on the density of seeds lying in the waterbed areas or farmland," he said. Raj Kumar Mandal (35) of Sahkol village also falling under Dagarua police station returned from Punjab during makhana harvesting season two weeks ago. "I start collecting seeds from early morning and till 2 pm, I collect 30 kg to 40 kg of seeds and earn Rs.1,500 to Rs.2,000 @Rs.50 per kg," he told HT enthusiastically, and proudly affirmed, "In Punjab, we earn more than in Bihar but when it comes to makhana harvesting season, Punjab can't compete with Bihar in terms of wages. In Punjab, we earn Rs.600 to Rs.800 daily working over 12 hours." Raj Kishor Parihar (37) of the same village echoed the same sentiments and declared that he would return to Punjab after Chhath puja. But the story of 35-year-old Shit Rishi, a resident of Teghra, is different. "I have already said goodbye to Punjab and Rajasthan because I have acquired expertise in makhana harvesting, which has been rewarding both in terms of work and income. I earn Rs.40,000-Rs.45,000 during the season, which roughly runs from August to October, and I invest this money in agriculture on land leased from landlords," he said. Shit, a landless labourer who used to migrate to Punjab and Rajasthan until three years ago, now has three sons and a daughter. He not only ensures they attend school regularly but also coaches them himself. The cases of Raj Kumar and Raj Kishor, like many others, reflect a trend of 'reversal of migration,' while some, like Shit, have completely given up migrating to other states for livelihood. "Yes, 'reversal of migration' has just begun and you can realise it in the villages especially during makhana harvesting season," Dr Anil Kumar, principal investigator, Makhana Research Project, Bhola Paswan Shastri Agricultural College (BPSAC), Purnia, affiliated to Bihar Agricultural University, (BAU) Sabour said, claiming, "In coming days, it will gain momentum as its farming is expanding at a very fast pace." "Makhana has also succeeded in checking the speed of migration in Seemanchal and Kosi regions, especially between August and October," he claimed, affirming, "Its farming has potential to fight the migration stigma attached to Seemanchal region for a long time with estimated number of over five lakh migrant labourers in four districts Purnia, Katihar, Araria and Kishanganj." Dr Kumar said, "We don't have any exact data but roughly the number of local labourers, mostly migrant labourers, engaged in its harvesting has crossed 25,000 and it is steadily increasing with the rapid expansion of makhana cultivation."...