Caritas India presented the roadmap for securing decent work, dignified life and de-stressed life for the pandemic-hit migrant communities in a webinar that was organized on 9 June 2020. The webinar, attended by delegates of scores of Caritas organisations across the globe, highlighted the travails of migrants who have been driven back to their native places by the pandemic. The webinar discussed practical solutions for the misery of the millions of migrants who are facing acute livelihood insecurity and existential challenges. Caritas India, in the webinar, also presented the findings of the research that was recently conducted on the distress of migrants who returned to their homes after they lost their work.

Addressing the webinar Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura, Chairman, Caritas India said that the webinar was organized at appropriate time when migrant workers and their families are going through a harrowing experience. “The horrific sight of exodus of migrants to their own homes, heartrending tales of migrants and emotional outburst of few good-hearted people have brought the prevailing crisis into the limelight”, Archbishop Sebastian said. He said that migrant community is facing cascaded hardships. He suggested campaigning on governance and schemes like PDS, pension schemes, Mid-Day Meal scheme etc. so that migrant community will have food and livelihood security. He highlighted the necessity of developing a political agenda centered on employment by evolving a social engagement with the youth and the workers who have returned from their workplaces.

Fr. Paul Moonjely, executive director, Caritas India said that almost 4.5 million migrants were on the roads fighting hunger. He said that the crisis of migrants has assumed catastrophic proportions. Highlighting Pope Francis’ call to welcome, protect, promote and integrate the displaced migrants, Fr. Paul urged participants to be courageous to make innovations and come with solutions to address issues related to migrants in an effective way.

Fr Fabio Baggio, Under-Secretary, Section on Migrants and Refugees, Vatican gave the keynote address in which he spoke about Vatican’s efforts to protect the interests of migrants and to address the crisis that has engulfed them. “The displaced people and refuges have been largely forgotten during the emergency. They were left alone to deal with the virus alone in the refugee camps”, lamented Fr. Fabio. There is an urgent need to understand the situation ethically and to see how the new schemes and arrangements could be used for protecting the rights and dignity of migrant workers and accomplish integral human development. Local church should be reflective and prepared for the future, Fr. Fabio added.

Ms. Amparo Alonso, Head of Advocacy and Campaigns, Caritas Internationalis informed about the efforts that Caritas Internationalis has done for following up with the discussions on UN processes related to migration, refugee and trafficking. She said that Caritas Internationalis has focused on the objective of enhancing availability and flexibility of pathways for regular migration, facilitating fair and ethical recruitment and safeguard conditions that ensure decent work and preventing and combatting trafficking in persons in the context of international migration. Ms. Amparo also informed how Caritas Internationalis is persuading governments to provide access to essential services to all migrants.
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Dr. George Joseph, Director Migration Department, Caritas Sweden spoke about the unsettling situation that is emerging for migrants across Europe because of Covid-19 pandemic. “COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of even the advanced and ‘smart’ countries. Across Europe, hunger and destitution have become intense”, Dr. Joseph said.  He further said that the Church must respond to the recent spurt in the cases of homelessness, destitution, lack of work and joblessness.

Ms. Aruna Roy, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and former member of National Advisory Council (NAC) spoke on the perspectives of civil society’s response to migrant’s crisis and said that millions of migrant workers have been pushed into the street where their vulnerabilities have been exposed.
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Ms. Aruna spoke in detail about the measures that could be initiated urgently in the sectors of livelihood, health, employment generation and food security. “In the current situation, it becomes essential for all of us, as concerned citizens who believe that there should be equality and justice, right to dissent and right to disagree and to work towards safeguarding of the rights of migrant workers,” Ms. Aruna Roy said. “It is time we realize that migrant workers were not depending on our charity. They are the ones who were contributing to the economy of the country, consumption needs and food needs. Without them, country cannot go on”, she added. She said that community should resist strongly the tendencies to give communal shade to Covid-19 virus.

Mr. Zar Gomes, Regional Coordinator, Caritas Asia in his note on Asian perspective on migrants urged Caritas organisations should ensure that migrants are included in response to COVID-19 relief as they are the integral part of the development plan of Caritas fraternity. Neglecting them would mean neglecting important part of the vision, Mr. Zar added.

Fr Jaison Vadassery, Secretary ICMC and Executive Secretary Commission for Migrants CCBI spoke on the prevailing migrant crisis and the response of Church agencies. Covid-19 is not only a health issue but it has serious repercussions on the livelihoods of migrants. Problems of unorganized workers and migrants have compounded with the pandemic crisis which need to be addressed on a priority basis, Fr. Jaison said.

Dr. Saju MK of Caritas India presented the salient findings of the recently conducted research of Caritas India on the distress of returnee migrants. With statistics drawn from the research, Dr. Saju presented the crisis of an alarming nature and scale which migrant community has been confronting ever since the pandemic has struck the country.

Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur, Chairman, CCBI in his concluding remarks said that there is an urgent need to recognize migrant workers as human beings. Unfortunately, the right to life was completely ignored during the pandemic. He appreciated Caritas India and other organizations to swinging into swift action to support migrants.

The webinar concluded with a vote thanks by Ms. Babita Alick, operations manager, Caritas India.