Government’s Apathy towards Migrant communities

Synopsis: The government is not showing any Apathy towards Migrant communities to address the challenges faced by them. It is despite their increased vulnerability to the shocks in the economy.

Background

• The second wave of the Pandemic has once again led to the enforcement of Strict to moderate lockdowns in states.
• This has resulted in a loss of jobs for Informal workers employed in many industries. Majority of the migrants work in the informal sector.
• Despite their increased vulnerability in the informal sector, government efforts to support them through policymaking have been inadequate.

About Migrants

• Migrants are ‘mobile by default’, They are a product of growing rural distress and inadequate official policies failing to support the ailing rural economy.
• They benefit the urban economy by providing cheap labor to manufacturing units and cheap services to households.

What are the challenges faced by the migrant population?

• Unemployment in urban areas due to Pandemic induced Economic distress.
• Lack of access to accommodation.
• A lack of sustainable income and savings to ensure food due to near insolvency.
• Reverse migration by paying exorbitant costs for travel.
• Falling victim to COVID-19.
• Lack of livelihood opportunities in their hometowns in the rural economies.
• Lack of new job opportunities, due to shrinking National Rural Employment Guarantee Act allotments by the government.
• Lastly, Lack of legal status as a working population.

What needs to be done?

The recent official announcement of a free ration of 5 kg cereals to 80 crore families is the only benefit visible so far. However, it is not sufficient;

• Government should strive to calculate the official estimate of migrant workers, either incoming or reverse. This will help in objective policy planning.
• Need to alleviate rural distress by providing support to the ailing agriculture economy.
• There is a need to provide some short-term relief for migrant workers and their families to support their livelihood during the Pandemic.
• Migrant workers should be provided with legal backing.
• Modifications  in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 are required to strengthen the health and safety conditions of workers in establishments

Source: The Hindu