Neither elections back home nor any pandemic, this time it is the unavailability of LPG cylinders that is forcing migrant labourers to pack their belongings and return to their native places in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.The problem of cooking gas availability, which is worsening with each passing day, is being felt by the migrant labour population across Punjab cities, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar. A majority of these workers are employed in construction companies, small factories, eateries and as domestic help.Narinder S Sagoo, president of the Focal Point Association, Jalandhar, said, “Most of our workers have pointed out that they have regular gas connections back home in their respective states. Here, they have been relying on smaller cylinders that were earlier available in the open market. Now, they say things are becoming more difficult with each passing day.”Sagoo said they could not convince at least 20 per cent of their workforce to stay back despite assuring them of all possible help.A cross-section of migrant workers said they were not being allowed to use firewood either at their workplace or at their residences, making cooking difficult. Kuldeep Kumar, a migrant from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh working at a crockery store in Ludhiana, said, “I am unable to get a refill for a small cylinder in the open market. I am now cooking on firewood collected from under trees. At the same time, I know many people from my hometown who are not allowed to use firewood in their compounds.”World MSME Forum president Badish Jindal, however, said a large number of labourers returned home every year during this period for the harvesting season. “This is a usual trend, but this year the numbers are significantly higher. The common reason cited is that it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to manage their daily cooking,” he said.Ram Bhawan Goswami, president of the Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Parishad (Amritsar), said approximately 40,000 to 50,000 labourers, of the around 35 lakh in Punjab, returned to their native places during this period every year. “The shortage of cooking gas is certainly forcing many more to join them this time,” he said.Ram Murari, who too belongs to Hardoi, said, “After failing to get a small cylinder refill in the open market, I made friends with the manager of a local trader’s godown. He used to charge me Rs 100 extra per refill until a few days ago, but now even he has refused. Staying here is becoming impossible.”Kamal Dalmia, president of the Focal Point Industries Welfare Association in Amritsar, said a long-time worker at their unit told him that arranging even a simple meal had become a daily struggle, one that now seemed more pressing than employment itself.(With inputs from Neeraj Bagga)