This year, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees was celebrated on 27 September. Catholics worldwide are called upon to remember those displaced by conflict and persecution. The last Sunday of September of every year is observed as the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

Holy Father Pope Francis chose the theme “Like Jesus Christ, forced to flee. Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating internally displaced persons,” to urge people to discover more deeply the reality of internally displaced people. The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is always an occasion to express concern for many different vulnerable people on the move; to pray for the challenges and increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers.

Today, more people than ever live in a country other than the one in which they were born. While many individuals migrate out of choice, many others migrate out of necessity. In 2019, the number of migrants globally reached an estimated 272 million, 51 million more than in 2010.

Caritas India is committed to stop any form of Slavery of Human being & restoration of Human Dignity Moreover as recognized under sustainable Development Goal 10 Reduce Inequality within & among countries, social & Income inequality are Global problems that require Global Solution & addressing the safe migration & mobility of People is also the Key to protect the people from unsafe Migration.

Caritas India with its partners under the Swaraksha Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) Program was involved in Creating Awareness & Sensitizing vulnerable families on Safe migration & Human Trafficking and providing support and protecting vulnerable people on the move and advocates for sustainable results for migrants in the communities.

On the occasion World Migrant and Refugee Day several awareness & sensitization meetings were organized by Caritas India partners DSWS, PGSS & DEHAT & Shakti Samuha Nepal, under Swaraksha AHT Program at Indo-Nepal border Rupaidiha, Nautanwa & Mihinpurwa area. The objective of these meetings was to interact with the migrant workers who are being displaced due to the outbreak of Covid-19 Pandemic & other disasters. Thousands of Migrant workers were forced to return to their homes after the Impact of Covid-19 & the Closure. After six months of the lockdown impact, they still remember the Journey of Pain while returning to their homes.

World Day for Migrant & Refugees is dedicated to those who migrated and are living as Refugees & the objective to observe it following the Theme of Pope Francis “Forced like Jesus Christ to flee with a focus on the need for the care of Internally Displaced Persons”. Following the theme, partners addressed about a hundred migrant workers who were affected due to Covid-19 Impact and have moved to their homes. The purpose of calling them on this day was to create awareness among them on Govt. schemes, take safety measures while migration & know the Emergency helpline numbers. During this awareness creation, the partner’s team was supported by Shashastra Seema Bal the Indo-Nepal Border force who took the lead to Sensitize the migrants. Shri. Mohan Singh SSB In-charge at BOP Jhulnipur addressed the migrant workers to be very alert while moving to other places for work & ensure the safety of the workplace & employer to save themselves from any inevitable accidents. Shri Virendra Rao Village head from Barwakalan also communicated that more than seven hundred returnee migrants were supported through different Govt. Schemes like MNREGA & other livelihood opportunities for work at the time of lockdown. The village head informed that during this pandemic time migrant workers and vulnerable families are being supported with great concern and will continue to be associated with government schemes and will be supported to enhance their livelihood. Simultaneously different aspects of human trafficking were discussed during this meeting and it was decided that the village Pradhan will be always informed if any problem arises with any of the migrants.

These migrants were informed that the details of the employers need to be share at the Panchayat level where a Register is being maintained to record the details before they migrate. They were told that those who go out to work should first authenticate that the working place and the name of the company where they are going is genuine and also they should keep their original documents with themselves (like Passport, Aadhar cards & other Original IDs. etc. ) and share only photocopies to the employer. It is mandatory to get themselves registered in labor department and ensure that the contract letter and appointment letter made from the company. Apart from this, the migrant workers should also ensure that they do not make a relationship with any unknown person especially sexual relation because there is always a danger of sexually transmitted disease i.e. HIV.

Under Swaraksha AHT Program Caritas India is able to address the issue of safe migration in more than 32 villages at the Indo-Nepal border where the Panchayats are involved to check the migration of people to other places & have started keeping the Migration Register to record the details of people moving outside the village for work. Poverty and lack of opportunities to work at the local level with low wages is a big challenge for the vulnerable families which compels the families to move to other places for work. To ensure the safe migration, Panchayats are sensitized to keep the record of migrants with details of the person where he/she is going for work with the details of the employer in case of emergency to contact easily. Several youth had initiated to work in their villages after creating awareness and linking them to Govt. Schemes for their livelihood. Caritas India through its partners is trying to bring peace & happiness in the life migrants & refugees displaced following the words of Pope Francis.