Migration is part and parcel of life for every living being. There are several reasons for migration and
the most prominent one is for survival and livelihood. Increasing poverty,
disparity and growing industrialization and urbanization forces people to move
from place to place. Migrants are inherently vulnerable and often loss their
identity, statesmanship and loss their privileges and provisions of the
government schemes and benefits. It is
in this circumstances, Vigil India Movement (VIM) organized a Consultation on “Interstate Migration and Migrant Workers
Situation in India” on Saturday the 30th January 2016 between
9.00AM and 4.00PM at the KROSS (Karnataka Regional Organization for Social
Service), 58/6 second cross, De’casta Layout, Wheeler Road extension, Bangalore
to address the issues concern to migrant workers in India. 27 participants consist of Social Activist,
Human Rights Defenders and individuals from different sectors attended the
consultation.
Mr. John VM Juliana, welcomed the participants and resource team. Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, Hon. Director,
VIM delivered a opening remarks for the consultation and briefed why VIM took
initiatives in inviting people from various sector and whose interest are
common in protecting and promoting the Rights of Migrants in India.
Fr. Martin Puthussery from Indian Social Institute, Bangalore took a
session on ‘Socio, Economic, Political and Cultural Challenges faced by Migrant
Workers in India’. Fr. Martin
highlighted that a decreasing percentage in agricultural farming, extreme
poverty is root cause for distress migration and migrant workers are paid less
wages in several cases the owners withheld wages through which they are forcing
migrants to work in their firm for long run and force them to work more than 14
to 18 hours a day. There is no proper
shelter and protection for migrant workers as specified by Migrant Workers
amendment in India. Accidents and deaths
are very common in workplace and none of the companies generously provide
compensation to family members until and unless the incident is brought to
public. Migrants are losing their identity, voting rights and government
provisions. Fr. Martin, who has
extensively travelled from West Bengal to Kerala and done research on Migrant
workers situation, gave a statistics on reported incidents of exploitation to
migrant workers throughout the country. At the end of his session, Fr. Martin raised
a doubt, whether Article 15 and 19 of Indian Constitution is properly
understood or reached to the concerns employing Migrants in India.
Mr. N.P. Samy and Mr. Walim Khan from Karnataka State Construction
Workers Union, explained about the pathetic situation of Metro Rail
Construction Workers in Bangalore. Metro
Rail Corporation is one of the divisions of Indian government, which has all
the regulation and guidelines to employ migrant workers and ensure to provide
proper shelter, sanitation, security and proper compensation in case of accidents
least bothered to follow the regulations.
Most of the migrants are from UP, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa and
their literacy level is below 8th standard. Average age group of workers are between 17
and 35 in which 46% of the workers are getting less than Rs. 8000/- per month
and 30% of the workers are getting 8000 to 9000 per month as salary. Mr. N.P. Samy further added that the appointed
officers concerned to migrant workers welfare were not monitoring the standards
prescribed by the government rather they are only interested only in receiving
commissions from the contractors.
Ms. Kathayini Chamaraj from CIVIC Bangalore took a session on Rights
of Migrants Workers: UN Mechanisms and India’s Legal Provisions. She has very briefly outlined the
International amendments to protect the Rights of Migrant Workers and
Interstate Migrant workman Act.
During the sharing session, Ms. Geeta Menan, Ms. Vinitha, Ms. Savitha
and Mr. Hemant Kumar shared their NGO experience working with Migrants and
their children in Bangalore. Dr.
Madhumathi and Mr. Bhaskar moderated pre and post lunch sessions while sharing
their experiences.
At the concluding it was suggested to have a national level
consultation by inviting several activists and NGO representatives to bring out
a solid statement to appeal the government to monitor the migrant workers
situation and help the migrants to strive for their rights. Mr.
John VM Juliana coordinated the programme.