India Migration Now’s Post

#migration | Odisha’s migration patterns reveal a striking financial reality: migrant workers are injecting as much capital into their communities as the government spends on development activities. Research conducted by Gram Vikas and the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development (CMID) found that remittances are not just supplemental income but transformative, pulling families out of debt and poverty. In some areas, the scale of migration has reshaped local economies, with earnings from southern Indian states like Kerala offering a lifeline and driving improvements in household savings, debt repayment, and quality of life. Liby Johnson emphasises the need to view migration as a transitional livelihood strategy that fosters economic diversification, enhances household well-being, and drives socioeconomic progress in Odisha's rural communities. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gnCwpHD5 Gram Vikas' Safe and Dignified Migration Programme has four components: - scientifically designed studies to understand the nature of migration - a corridor approach to enabling safe and dignified migration through collaboration with governments and other stakeholders - destination level services to migrant workers, and  - source level activities focussing on financial and emotional well-being of families of migrants who stay back #migrantworkers #livelihoods #economy #Odisha

The Odisha government has formed a task force to tackle distress migration caused by a lack of local employment opportunities. This initiative addresses the outflow of skilled and unskilled laborers from underdeveloped regions, where poor agricultural infrastructure worsens economic conditions. Many migrants experience exploitation and bondage labor in other states, with reports of around one thousand abuse cases annually. Led by Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, the task force includes various state ministers and departmental leaders. Its objectives are to identify root causes of migration, recommend actionable strategies, and monitor progress biannually. The secretariat will be located in the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department and may engage external experts as needed. The task force will assess geographic and seasonal migration trends, evaluate current government interventions, and propose strategies for local employment and infrastructure enhancement. It will also seek to connect families with anti-poverty programs and promote collaboration among state and central governments, civil society, and technical organizations to effectively address the challenges faced by migrant workers in Odisha. #AsiaOperations #Demographics #India Get a full accounting of the security situation in Asia by subscribing to Security Asia. Subscribe now--free of charge--at https://lnkd.in/g7Cs8Gkf https://lnkd.in/gsY_dvs2

#LabourMigration | India's internal and international migration is primarily driven by factors such as unemployment, competitive labour markets, and better livelihood opportunities elsewhere. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent nationwide lockdown led to reverse migration as borders were sealed, particularly affecting informal migrant workers. Amid the national lockdown in March 2020, internal migrants faced arduous journeys to return home, marking one of the largest migrations in India's history. 🏛 Governments at both central and state levels recognized the need for strong systems in high out-migration states, to provide welfare and social security to migrant workers at source and destination states. However, the lack of data on internal labour migration at district, state, and national levels posed a significant challenge. 👉 Policy & Development Advisory Group (PDAG)'s work in the area of labour migration shows a concerted effort to grasp the intricate dynamics of migration, providing valuable insights for informed policy interventions and fostering safer and more sustainable migration practices. Jharkhand Migration Survey 2023 (JMS) was conceptualised as part of the Safe and Responsible Migration Initiative (SRMI). It was designed to map estimates of labour migration, motives of migration, and impact on migrant households, communities, and the political economy of the state. #JMS #Migration #JharkhandMigrationSurvey #InternalMigration #Pandemic #Lockdown

Gram Vikas and CMID, as part of our collaborative initiative to promote safe and dignified migration, have been profiling migration from various blocks in Odisha. The latest among them is the Surada block in Ganjam. Although the Ganjam district is known for labour migration, the level of migration from the Surada block is exceptionally high. Three out of every four households in Surada have an interstate migrant worker. One in every five persons in the block is a migrant. While there is a component of distress, migration from Surada is driven more by aspirations. Beyond Ganjam-Surat, a labour migration corridor has evolved between Ganjam and Kerala state in southern India. While age and gender appear to be playing key roles in deciding the mobility of an individual, caste seems to be a key determinant in the choice of destination. Migration brings nearly two billion rupees (₹180 crore) to Surada block annually as remittances, reviving the economy of the block and improving the resilience of the households. A steady monthly income of ₹15000 to ₹20000 at the native place is regarded as sufficient by migrant workers to avoid migration for work. They also seem to be well aware that avenues for earning such income are limited in Surada.  To read the report, scan the QR Code or follow the link: https://lnkd.in/gRVzHkzq #migration #migrants #labourmigration #CMID #Surada #Odisha #Ganjam 

An insightful article about the internal migration problem! Kudos Amoolya Rajappa!

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant gaps in the protection and management of migrant workers in Maharashtra, underscoring the need for robust data and evidence-based policies. As Dr. Irudayarajan Sebastian and Dr. Divya Balan highlight, a comprehensive state-wide survey on migration is essential for crafting policies that safeguard the well-being and rights of this critical workforce. It's time to prioritize accurate data collection and collaborative efforts to drive meaningful change. #MigrationPolicy #MigrantWorkers #DataDriven #Maharashtra #EconomicDevelopment"

Public health services are inconveniently located and ill-timed for the migrant workers. Language constraints further complicate the access and a lot of workers are unable to read and write. The Bandhu Mobile Clinic is a PPP model under the National Health Mission, Kerala that overcomes many of these challenges and provides regular services to migrants. To improve communications and to promote treatment adherence, the medicine prescriptions and medicine covers were designed with pictures that can be easily understood by migrants. Each medicine is given in a cover which also has instructions and a number linking to the prescription. #worldhealthday #bandhuclinic #inclusivehealth #migrantworkers #migrationasasolultion #leavingnoonebehind #cmid #NHM NHSRC INDIA World Health Organization arogyakeralam.in World Health Organization South-East Asia

To share our op-ed article in New Indian Express! Authored by Dr. Bijulal M.V., and I am honoured to have contributed to it. It explores the Kerala model's social health security for interstate migrant workers and sheds light on efforts by states sending workers. Read more on how Kerala and Bengal can inspire nationwide improvements! #serb #migrant #helathcare #kerala #westbengal #indianexpress

When I say migration is a 'solution' people ask me, isn't migration a 'problem'? Distress migration certainly is a problem, but safe migration is a solution. With the impact of climate change on livelihoods in rural areas, migration has evolved as a source of resilience (perhaps the only source), but at a cost; at the cost of dignity/health/life of the person who migrates. Although this article is on migration from Nepal, the case is the same for India also. Migrants from areas impacted by climate change end up at urban destinations which are also impacted by climate change. Because they have limited agency and resources at the destinations, they suffer significant loss and damages. Gram Vikas and Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development working with partners of the Migrant Forum Asia have been struggling to bring back workers from Ganjam district of Odisha from exploitative employment in Sultanate of Oman. Within the country also there are substantial struggles. As I write this, an ambulance is heading to Kandhamal from Tirupati with the body of a migrant worker. Since the family cannot afford to pay for the transportation expenses, Kabir Rana has started a crowd funding campaign. Last week CMID facilitated the cremation of the body of a worker from Odisha in Kochi since the family could not afford to pay for the transport of the body. In a third case that we came to know yesterday, together the two organisations are working to bring back the body of a worker who collapsed and died in Chennai. We seriously need to discuss ways to make migration safer in the context of the impact of climate change on rural livelihoods. #Labourmigraiton #Climatechange https://lnkd.in/gXmtT9Qg

#migration | How did the Safe and Dignified Migration Programme evolve? While working closely with the communities from economically backward districts in Odisha, we have always seen a pattern where the working members of the family migrate to different parts of the country. The Safe and Dignified Migration Programme aims to ensure that the migration occurs in a safe, orderly, and dignified manner. It addresses challenges related to irregular migration routes, human rights, promoting safer migration pathways and dignified returns and reintegration. What does a dignified migration look like? - A migration that is based on choice, skill set, and an informed decision at the source level. - A dignified living and workspace, access to social security benefits, and entitlements for migrant workers at the destination level. - A support system in case of an emergency. - Financial, social and emotional well-being of the dependents back home. Notably, with men migrating, the ageing parents, women and children left behind, there was a need of mitigating the psycho-social aspects of migration as well which became an important part of this programme. First taken up in Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi district in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme is now fully operational in Thuamul Rampur, and Daringbadi block of Kandhamal, covering nearly 40,000 households, of which 61% belong to SC and ST communities. Read more about how the community champions help in enabling Safe and Dignified Migration programme in rural Odisha - https://lnkd.in/gG_C8APB #SafeAndDignifiedMigration #GramVikas #Employment #SkillsTraining #SocialWellbeing