Other States - Punjab   

Punjab villagers sad at Italy’s stricter immigration rules

CHANDIGARH: The residents of Bathan Kallan village, 60 km from here, were saddened when the Italian government declared a nationwide state of emergency last Friday, giving authorities additional powers to tackle the influx and combat “persistent and exceptional” arrival of illegal immigrants. In the last 20 years, over 40 families from Bathan Kallan have migrated to Italy.

“Those who go to Italy illegally have a very tough life, they travel by ships for months and then live hidden lives. If the law becomes more strict, it will become difficult for youngsters to go there,” says 46-year-old Karalta Singh, who migrated to Italy 14 years ago.

Explaining why Punjabis have been migrating to Italy, Karalta Singh said: “It is a lucrative option. The size of landholdings has become very small and no good jobs are available here. That’s why many young boys spent as much as Rs.12 lakh to reach Italy illegally. Once they reach, they look towards fellow Punjabis for shelter as they don’t have any legal documents.”

An agent who organises such illegal migrations said Italy was the safest place because people were not deported easily. “Italy used to give two weeks to an illegal immigrant to leave the country or appeal against it. During this time, they would slip underground. Now they are being ordered to leave within five days during which they would be in Italian custody. The state of emergency, earlier only in the southern provinces of Sicily, Puglia and Calabria, has been extended to the entire country.”

Harcharan Kaur, whose husband had migrated illegally, recalled the difficulties he faced. Initially he had to slog a lot. He recalls the times when he and his friends did not see the sun for four months while hiding from the authorities. They were dependent on some kind-hearted Punjabis who gave them food. Later he started working as a farm worker. Before 1998, the Italian government used to hold amnesties for illegal immigrants; they could apply for Italian citizenship and not get punished for having been there illegally and many people from the village had benefited from these amnesties. “Between 1986 and 1998, the Italian government held four amnesties and granted citizenship to about 700,000 people. That’s when I and my family got citizenship,” says 39-year-old Gurmeet Kaur, who lives in Italy with her husband and four children.

The amnesties attracted more migrants. Consequently the policy was changed and stricter rules enforced.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Punjab villagers sad at Italy’s stricter immigration rules

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu