War Causes Migrant Labor Exodus & 'Siropa' Shortage

April

2026

A growing shortage of cooking gas in Panjab has forced many migrant workers to leave the state and return to their native places in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, raising serious concerns for the upcoming harvest season. Most of the 3.5M migrant workers do not have regular Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections and rely on small cylinders available in the open market. However, the shortage of cylinders has made it hard for workers on farms, construction sites, small factories, eateries, and as domestic helpers to cook food. To address the concern, Panjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said that the government will provide 5 kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders. The union government has also allowed FTL cylinders to be sold with identification papers but without address proof, making it simpler for migrant workers, students, and daily-wage earners to access cooking gas. Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has said that 16 Indian vessels are currently in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz; four in the Gulf of Oman; one in the Gulf of Aden; and two in the Red Sea. The Director General of Shipping said India has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 1,479 Indian seafarers across the Persian Gulf region. Concurrently, the ongoing conflict involving the Israel-US and Iran has disrupted a cherished Sikh tradition—the presentation of siropas (robes of honor). The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and 280 gurdwaras under the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925 requires 700–800K meters of siropas annually. The interruptions in the import of petroleum-based chemicals, essential for producing the fabric and threads used in these ceremonial robes, have caused an acute shortage. Parallely, due to the war, the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, the Hindu Temple in Dubai, and Shri Krishna Temple in Bur Dubai, UAE announced temporary closures until further notice, following directives from Dubai authorities citing safety and security reasons. Concurrently, Panjab rice exporters have asked the Indian government to revive a barter mechanism—exchanging basmati rice for Iranian crude oil—to manage payments amidst fresh trade disruptions, as was practiced in 2013–14 when fresh US sanctions hit Iran (earlier coverage).