What India Should Have Done for Migrant Workers – But Conveniently Didn't (thewire.in)
In response to a question, the Ministry of Labour and Employment recently informed the Lok Sabha that as per the National Crime Records Bureau data, daily wage earners constituted the largest proportion, one-fourth, of those who died by suicide in India between 2019 and 2021
Most migrants work in the informal sector, with no health and social security provisions. Their wages are not standardized and secure. Lack of affordable housing means they are forced to live in urban villages or slums. The lack of portability of state-specific benefits into another state renders them further vulnerable.
It is important to mention that migration will gain further momentum in days to come because of differential demographic transitions and unequal economic development and employment opportunities across states. The question to ask is: are we proactively planning for such a scenario? The Working Group on Migration (2017) set up by the Ministry of Urban Housing and Poverty alleviation examined the status of migrant workers in the country and submitted its report to the government in 2017. Action on the report is still awaited.
by Devender Singh and Debasish Chowdhury
17/02/2023