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| Photo Source:UNESCO |
Free movement is a
fundamental right of the citizens of India and internal movements are not
restricted. The Constitution states: “All citizens shall have the right (...)
to move freely throughout the territory of India; to reside and settle in any part
of the territory of India
- Article
19(1) (d) and Article 19(1) (e), Part III, Fundamental Rights, The Constitution of India,
1950.
Approximately three out of every ten Indians are internal
migrants! Despite this, internal migration has been accorded very low priority
by the government, and existing policies of the Indian state have failed in
providing legal or social protection to this vulnerable group.
National Sample Survey Office (2007–08) states that around 28.5 per cent
of the 1.2 billion people in India are internal migrants (Census 2011). According
to the UNDP Human Development Report (2009), the number of internal migrants
(740 million) is nearly four times the number of international migrants (214
million).
As per NSSO
(2007-08), around 80 per cent of total
internal migrants are women. 91.3 per cent of women in rural areas and 60.8
per cent of women in urban areas cite marriage to be the most prominent reason
for migration. However, researchers believe that the macro data reports do not
capture the complete picture and miss the actual reasons for migration. About 30 per cent of internal migrants in India
belong to the youth category (15-29 years age group).
India’s urban population has increased from about 286 million in 2001 to
377 million in 2011, and is expected to increase to 600 million by 2030. This increase
migration to urban areas is largely due to an increase in female migration
(38.2 %in 199341.8 % in 1999-2000 45.6 % in 2007-08). The main reason driving
this migration is expectations of “better employment opportunities.”
The report on Social Inclusion of
Internal Migrants in India, UNESCO (http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002237/223702e.pdf) highlights two developments in the evolution of urban centres that
absorb the increasing migrant population.
Firstly, influx of people from varied regions poses a socio-economic and environmental challenge to cities. The outcomes are growth of second tier cities rapid urbanisation and the greater challenge to absorb the migrant population that eventually translates into increased poverty and inequality levels.
Secondly, focus of policy making changes from “welfarism to rights based approach” with the goal to ensure that basic services are accessible to all.
The loose definition of migration and the largely ignored concerns that
it poses renders the design and delivery of their social inclusion undefined
and hence, ineffective.
Internal
Migration: Myths and Realities
Despite its
contribution, internal migration still suffers from several ill conceived
notions. Highlighted below are some myths related to internal migrants that are
countered with important realities:
- Myth: Burden on destination cities vs. Reality: Forms cheap labor and thereby contributes to GDP
- Myth Steal local jobs vs.Reality: Migrants typically provide essential services which the locals might not want to engage in
- Myth: Migration can be stopped vs. Reality: Migration and urbanisation are integral part of economic and social development.
- Myth: Inhospitable cities are best deterrents to internal migration vs. Reality: Harsh cities merely increase risks and costs of migration, reducing its development potential
- Myth: Women migrate only for marriage vs. Reality: Women's labour migration and economic contribution
10 Key Areas for Inclusion of Internal Migrants
1. REGISTRATION
AND IDENTITY
Migrants lack documentary proof of identity and local
residence due to which they are excluded from access to legal rights, public
services and social protection programmes (subsidised food, housing and banking
services). In response to this, the Unique Identification (Aadhar) programme was
created to combat the issue of registration.
2. POLITICAL AND CIVIC
INCLUSION
A report on Political Inclusion of Seasonal Migrant
Workers in India: Perceptions, Realities and Challenges reveals that many
migrants are unable to exercise their franchise because they have to travel in
search of work and some return to their villages to exercise their franchise,
because of this, they exercise limited political agency.
The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and
Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011 – could ensure a
mechanism of accountability of public authorities. It would enable a citizen to
file a complaint related to non-functioning of public authorities, violation of
a law, policy or scheme or any grievance related to citizens charters, and
offending officers could be penalized.
3. LABOUR MARKET INCLUSION
Migrants are mostly employed in the informal economy, devoid
of social security and fair market, often working as construction workers, agricultural
labourers, vendors, etc. There are few Central
Labour Laws for regulating conditions of work, but they remain undelivered.
4. LEGAL AID AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
As migrants are predominantly engaged in the informal
sector, migrants have no protection under labour laws. Government’s safety measures
remain unimplemented, and minimum wages are not delivered.
Poor literacy levels and no awareness act as an impediment
in claiming rights and entitlements.
The current discourse on migration has failed to adequately
address gender-specific migration experiences. The design of the Census and
NSSO data surveys should be amended to better capture the actual reasons of migration.
Women migrants, especially those in lower-end informal sector occupations,
remain invisible and discriminated against in the workforce.
6. INCLUSION
THROUGH ACCESS TO FOOD
In order to access subsidised grain and other supplies under
the PDS scheme, beneficiaries must present a ration card that is given to them
at their usual place of residence and is not transferrable. Such clauses imply
that migrants are unable to access the PDS system at destination.
The
National Food Security Bill 2011 passed this year aims to guarantee food and
nutritional security in India, recognized that:
“The migrants and their families shall be able to claim their
entitlements under this Act, at the place where they currently reside.”
Migrants face difficulties in accessing housing and other
basic amenities. They often live in urban slums, facing constant threats of
displacement and eviction from government officials. Shelter solutions show
little appreciation for the needs of seasonal migrants.
- Affordable rental housing to affordable private housing, with an eventual policy shift towards provision of de facto residential rights and housing
- In-situ upgradation of existing slum dwellings could be a first step towards ensuring basic services for migrants living in slums
- Employers and contractors also need to play a role in securing shelter for migrant workers, and experiments with dormitory accommodation provided by employers (as undertaken in China0
8. EDUCATIONAL
INCLUSION
Seasonal migrants often take their children along when they
migrate, which negatively impacts their regular schooling. This is one of the
reasons for high dropout rates in schools in many states. This further breeds inter-generational
transmission of poverty.
Despite the Child Labour (Prohibitions & Regulation)
Act, 1986, children work for long hours as unregistered workers often in harmful industries on piece rate basis
Suggestion:
Suggestion:
- The multiplication of seasonal hostels to promote the retention of children in schools in source areas
- The establishment of worksite schools at the destination with systems to transfer enrolment, attendance at and credits to formal schools, and bridge courses and remedial education for return migrant children
- Establishing peripatetic educational volunteers who can move with the migrating families, initiating strategies for tracking children by issuing migratory cards, and making the school calendar flexible to accommodate migrant children, including in local government schools in both rural and urban areas,
9. PUBLIC
HEALTH INCLUSION
Migrants are exposed to health risks including HIV, malaria
and tuberculosis, and occupational health hazards such as respiratory problems,
lung dseases, allergies, kidney and malnutrition.
10. FINANCIAL INCLUSION
Migrants are unable to access banking facilities since they
do not have the necessary documentation to fulfil the Know Your Customer (KYC)
requirements of banks, including proof of identity and proof of address. Suggestions
- Linking migrants to branchless banking and business correspondents along with incorporating flexibility in bank procedures
- Target banking services in geographical areas with high out-migration
Prepared by
Ashwin Varghese and Mahima Malik
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