“Children of the migrants are anaemic and need nutrition support,” informed the doctor to the PRAVASIBANDHU-Safe Migration Programme staff after the medical camp organized on June 10, 2021, at Ernakulam District of Kerala.

Almost 30 children were identified as anaemic during the medical camp organized by the Caritas India ‘Pravasi Bandhu’ Programme with the support of the National Health Mission (NHM) and Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS).

Undernutrition is highly prevalent among the children of the migrants due to misperceptions of malnutrition, lack of childcare provision at the worksite, lack of dietary diversity, poor hygiene and sanitation, and economic inability to seek healthcare.

Migrant Resource Centre (SUDHAAR- MRC), Ernakulam under the Pravasi Bandhu programme provides social, legal, cultural, emotional and psychological support to the internal migrant workers who come to Kerala from other states. As part of the programme, Welfare Services Ernakulam, a Caritas India partner in the Ernakulam district organized nutrition kit distribution for migrant children through MRC-SUDHAAR Migration Research Centre in Anganawady, Mavinchuvadu, Vazhakkulam Panchayath, Aluva.

Mr Gopalakrishnan (President, Vazhakkulam Panchayath) inaugurated the distribution along with Fr Joseph Koluthuvellil (Director, WSE Sahrudaya) who delivered the presidential address during the distribution ceremony. Dr. Sr Ann Joe from Naivedya Ayurvedic Hospital, Ernakulam interacted with the children in the camp after the inauguration.

In a similar event, Welfare Services Ernakulam distributed another set of nutrition kit to the migrant children with the support of Caritas India at in Anganawadi no 64, ward 9, Mavinchuvadu, Vazhakkulam Panchayath.

Fr Ancil Maippan (Assistant Director, WSE) distributed the nutrition kit to the children. Mr Anandhu Shaji (Consultant, Sudhaar, WSE) described the activities and objectives of the Sudhaar and Migration Research Centre with the participants.

Followed by the distribution programmes, Mr. Shano Jose and Ms. Chinju Antony (Railway ChildLine Ernakulam) led the session on “Child rights and importance of education” with the parents and children. Mr. Shano and Ms. Chinju deal with the importance of education of children and about their child rights.

Resource Persons aware of the compulsory education to children up to 14 years and stated that Railway ChildLine has rescued many runway cases of migrant children after the 2020 lockdown. It shows they were losing their education maybe because of poverty. Child labour is punishable by law and if any child needs assistance call 1098 (toll-free). Nutrition is very important for the child’s health so provide it according to your wealth or you can get the nutrition kits through the Anganwadi nearby the residence

The team is also working to connect these families with the ICDS programme with the help of Anganwadi workers and Panchayath Jagratha Samithy with the help of Asha workers (NHM) for the future supports and guidance.