World Migrants Day: The story of two Indians who became livestock farmers in Halkidiki

December 18 has been established by the UN as World Migrants’ Day, dedicated to the nearly 280 million people who have left their country in search of opportunity, dignity, freedom and a better life.

The theme of International Migrants Day 2023 honors the contribution of migrants to the societies in which they settle and refers to respect for their rights.

The story of Shorab and Shiv from India who became cattle breeders in Chalkidiki

Since November 1, 28-year-old Indian Shiv Kumar has been living 5,500 kilometers away from his home near New Delhi. In order to reach Greece and get a job in a livestock breeding unit of Galatista Halikidiki, he was chosen among hundreds of other candidates for the position, by the method of… photography. He had to fight, at the same time, the fear of the unknown and the nostalgia for his wife and their ten-month-old son.

On his way home from working in the fields in his home country, the 28-year-old Indian had first stopped at his 22-year-old compatriot friend Shorab’s house to inform him about it. “Let’s go to Greece” he told him, as reported by the Athenian/Macedonian News Agency and at the same time he was searching within himself to find the words he would use to tell his wife the news.

“My friend was overjoyed with the news”, recalls the 28-year-old, explaining that the worker who has declared to the employment agency that he wishes to be transferred, has the right to ask to leave for a job so far from his hometown and with a friend, relative or acquaintance. “Luckily the new boss wanted more of one’s people and so Shorab got comfortable,” notes Shiv Kumar with a smile.

He stopped at the door of his house, still trying to find the words to use to his wife, but she caught up with him, as the news had spread, and congratulated him on his new job in distant Greece. Many discussions followed, as he says, since a number of issues had to be settled and, most importantly of all, the money that would ensure his arrival in Greece was found.

“The cost of the plane ticket, more than 44,000 rupees (over 500 euros), is not covered by any service, not by the new boss“, he notes and adds that securing it was a family affair, since in the end everyone contributed their contribution. “Even my nephew opened his piggy bank and gave me the one euro (about 90 rupees) he had saved,” says the 28-year-old Indian, expressing his gratitude for the good fortune that was in store for him.

The situation experienced by the 22-year-old Shorab was similar, although as he says, apart from his anxiety to collect the money to secure the plane ticket, he did not need to be emotionally pressured, since as he states, he is “neither married nor not even accountable.” “I was just happy with the fact that luck smiled on me,” he added.

The two men felt lucky, because the development took them away from their home and their families, but at least their new base, Greece “is a welcoming country, with a mild climate and nice people”, an image they had it carries other compatriots who had worked here from time to time.

In a week the two men had everything ready. The plane ticket in hand, from a small suitcase with a few clothes and basic necessities and from forty euros, well kept in the pocket for the first expenses.

Shiv and Shorab traveled for more than eleven hours to reach Greece, since their flight was connecting from New Delhi and arriving at “Macedonia” airport from Athens, they were welcomed by people from the Agricultural and Livestock Cooperative of Galatistas and their new boss.

The new life in Greece and the…difficulties

A little house thirty five square meters, at the entrance to the cattle breeding unit where the two men are employed and is five kilometers from Galatista in Halkidiki, is the place where the two Indian seasonal workers spend their personal time. “Apart from the two beds, we have our kitchen, bathroom, heating, TV and free internet”, the two men point out, declaring that they are satisfied with their living conditions and the services offered to them. “We talk daily via video call with our family and have everything we need in order not to feel cut off from our life as we knew it in India,” they point out.

Of course, a strong motivation for them to make the decision and come to Greece was the salary them, as they say themselves, since “another is one hundred and sixty-nine rupees per day, almost two euros, and the daily wage in Greece is completely different, reaching up to 25 euros per day”. As they state “this amount does not include their insurance, nor the extras they secure with their overtime”.

Regarding the difficulties they face in Greece, a common feature of both men is … waking up in the morning, a fact that is also confirmed by the Greek stallholder in the unit. “At 6.30 in the morning we should already be at the animals and take care of them, but unfortunately we haven’t managed to do it yet”, they say and add that “we are an hour late and the boss is arguing lightly and rightfully so”.

It may be “the fault of the time difference between the two countries and we are still finding it difficult to get used to it”, they say with a laugh and express their hope that they will be able to wake up in the morning. After all, their desire is to satisfy the people who brought them to Greece for work, who, as they say, “take care of us and make sure we don’t miss anything, and the homemade food is delicious.”

Another difficulty they face, as well as the Greeks in the unit, is the Contact. Shiv and Shorab speak very little English and even no Greek, although, as they note, they try and want to learn the basics, as well as the Greek words that the animals on the farm hear as commands, even though they too have started to they become familiar with their own prompts.

“Maybe they have learned the sound of our voice, who knows?”, they emphasize

The two Indians they work every day from early in the morning until 12-12.30 in the afternoon and then again from 17.30 until 21.30 at night. They feed, milk and water the animals in the unit, while cleaning the facilities and doing all the chores required.

During the time they are in Greece, the Indians went twice to the village of Galatista in order to get some food and basic necessities, and they say: “we came here for work. To collect money, to send to our families, we don’t need anything else.” Of course, as they are quick to point out, “if we have the courage, we are with our other two fellow villagers who work in another livestock unit a few minutes away from ours”.

The key number and the choice…lottery

“In the last three years, the lack of labor in the region has hit red,” notes the president of the Galatista Agricultural and Livestock Cooperative, Angelos Tsiartsiaflis, a member of the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, and adds that after the massive rejection of the submitted applications on the repatriation of land workers from Pakistan, “the solution from India is the only way”.

Land workers from Thailand or Vietnam could have been selected, adds Mr. Tsiartsiaflis and explains that those from India were preferred “since other times workers from India have come to our area and we saw that they work well and adapt more easily than others “, he characteristically points out.

As he says, with the expression of interest in ETHEAS “we received a key number and using it we entered the association’s database and among the thousands of potential land workers we selected the two aforementioned men, plus two others who work in a second livestock unit in Galatista”, he notes . Their selection, made from their photo, “we don’t get any other information,” he notes, and adds “it’s a lottery you draw and hope you win.”

After the selection, the breeders normally submit their statements to the competent Decentralized Administration, from where the green light is given, while later, following the prescribed steps, the nominal applications are sent to the Greek Embassy in New Delhi, which invites them workers for interview within a frame of 15 days. It is recalled that based on the Joint Ministerial Decision, for the years 2023 and 2024, positions are no longer determined per Regional Unit, but per Region. This fact enables the transfer of temporary workers. In total in the region of Galatista, there is a need for more than seventy people as land workers and according to Mr. Tsiartsiaflis, those who finally arrive in Greece “live and work here for 12 months for sure, while they have the right if they wish to stay for two and three years”.