Embarking on a compassionate journey to address the challenges faced by migrant workers, a significant program orientation unfolded at the Navjeevan Renewal Centre, Delhi, from December 12th to December to 15th December 2023. The initiative, spearheaded by Caritas India with the support of Caritas Australia, signifies a collective commitment to ensure decent work and living for migrant workers.

The Jeevan Nirman program envisages working in 6 districts across Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, covering 40 villages with target groups, to create awareness, provide services through Migrant Resource Centres and facilitation centres, identify skill gaps, enhance skills, thereby creating employment opportunities, and ensure safe migration. This will entail networking with government, civil society organisations, and service providers for referral and policy engagement.

Caritas India, through the program aims to address multifaceted issues confronting migrant workers. The orientation session provided a platform for outlining the project’s objectives, strategies, and expected outcomes.

Fr. (Dr.) Jolly Puthenpura, Assistant Director of Caritas India, set the context of the program and wished the team all successful implementation for the upliftment of the target community. He emphasised the result-oriented implementation, which can truly benefit the migrant community members.

Caritas Australia representative Ms. Stephanie Heighes virtually attended the orientation and assured her support and coordination in the success of the program. Ms. Babita Pinto, the Head of Programs, at Caritas India, also shared her expectations from the program and the way forward to help the migrants in a better way.

Ms. Parul Sharma and Mr. Vibin Varghese in the orientation session gave an overview of the program and explained the major activities. Diocesan Directors from Raigarh and Chennai, along with the Director of Don Bosco Migrant Services, Chennai, discussed their roles in the program implementation and coordination during the orientation session. The day concluded with an orientation session on finance-related documents and the process.

The program’s MEAL framework was explained by Dr. Dilessh Varghese, the MEAL Lead of Caritas India. This includes program objectives, indicators, expected results, timeframe, etc. . Participants collectively build their understanding of the ‘Theory of Change’ through group work during the session. An orientation to the baseline tool in both source and destination through the Kobo Collect application was an important aspect. Along with this, Fr. Simolin, Director of Don Bosco Migrant Services, explained about their current work structure and ongoing activities related to migrant workers in Tamil Nadu.
A session on disability inclusion was led by Ms. Sangita Kulshresth to develop a basic understanding of disability and inclusion. Later, Ms. Sunita Ashwin, HR, oriented the staff on HR-related matters and policies at Caritas India. The orientation concluded with a session on documentation and reporting of the staff in the Jeevan Nirman Program by Mr. Vibin Varghese.

In the months to come, the program will unfold, guided by the principles of compassion, inclusivity, and social justice. The launch of this initiative marks the commencement of a compassionate odyssey, promising to illuminate the path towards securing decent work and living conditions for migrant workers.