Challenges of migrant workers in India

Many of the world’s leading destinations that serve as a hub for international immigrants, say that immigrants strengthen and add great value to their countries. A new Pew Research Center report with data from over 18 countries says that immigration is the most advantageous tool that a nation could use to further their development and economic progression. In 10 of the 18 countries that were analyzed in the report, immigrants were viewed as a strength rather than a concern. For example, in the U.S, although 34% of the population say that immigrants are a threat to the availability of jobs and social benefits, six in ten adults say that their nation is more distinguished and celebrated today as a result of the work, talents and morals that many immigrants from around the world bring to the country.

A growing phenomenon, migration is a critical factor that shapes global and political policies. A large share of migrants come from rural and densely populated areas where people often depend on agriculture and natural resources to make a livelihood. India is a country that is made up of many other countries – a statement often used when analyzing the various migration flows and patterns in India. Three out of ten Indians are internal migrants and studies show that reasons such as work, higher standards of living and marriage are amongst the various reasons that largely influence a migrant’s decision to relocate. The country is also a magnet for immigrants from other smaller states or countries with people usually migrating and escaping their homeland as a result of political unrest and poverty. It has become a homeland for thousands of Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, Nepalese and many other nationalities.

Despite the tension, unrest and violence caused by these movements arising from illegal immigration across borders, the country is in many ways a story of victory and success. Many states do their part, finding innovative solutions to work around movements of different populations. For example, Gujarat initialized seasonal boarding schools that provided migrant children with an education and village authorities in Maharashtra worked with volunteers to provide psychosocial services and support to children who had been left behind by their parents who had seasonally migrated. Odisha too, on the other hand, took over the responsibility to operate seasonal hostels for migrants, which are now run by NGOs.

A rising and dominating issue of migration is the fact that the shift in population arising from migration has accelerated and more and more people are malnutritioned. Agricultural, unfortunately, is already under stress as it is environmentally degrading and is a cause of climate change. A sustainable and long-lasting solution to this problem can focus on bettering and diversifying employment opportunities in rural areas for women and youth. This can thereby enable the poor to take advantage of social protection and improve livelihoods and living standards. Migration can be tackled through methods of rural development and sustainable agriculture and hence, issues and the root causes of the consequences of migration such as inequality, discrimination, education, poverty, hunger and unemployment can be overcome.

The growth of the country also attracted housing difficulties for migrants. The increasing flow of migrants from rural to urban areas creates pressure to accommodate more people. In the past few years more than 68 million people have lived in slums as a result of local governments not providing low-cost housing for the poor. Slum inhabitants often do not have the right to live on a piece of land and even if they do, the land is often seized by the government for redevelopment. In contrast, however, many seasonal migrants do not even have an opportunity to live in slums and are forced to live on the sites of their workplaces such as construction sites or pavements on the street, making them prone to harassment by local authorities.

On the other hand, migrant workers do not possess proofs of identity and residence and therefore cannot open a bank account in any Indian city. As a result, this influences their saving and spending patterns. Without banking services, migrant workers have no way in which they can safe-keep their money and wait for long durations to settle wages and avoid theft. They can then become vulnerable to cheating and hence, contractors often do not pay wages. With the absence of banking facilities, migrant workers have no way of sending money home and carry it home themselves, increasing the risk of theft or mugging.

Migrants are more vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination as a majority of them are poor and illiterate. Mumbai, for example, is influenced by strong anti-migrant political parties who believe that migrants are taking away the jobs of locals and that Marathi culture is degenerating and worsening due to them. Women and children who travel along with men face hardships in their own way. Social exclusion from language barriers and traditional customs serve as an obstacle to the lives of migrants.

Although there are innumerable concerns that come with the great magnitude and variety of migration patterns and flows in India, the mass migration in the country contributes to the protection of political, economic, global and social policies. Despite the fact that the market has failed to provide protection to migrant workers, local and civil authorities work hard to offer successful solutions and strategies to various problems so that the government can be efficient and effective in the protection of migrant workers.