Strengthening migrant safety, well being and access to services in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh

Migrant workers remain the backbone of India’s industrial and service economy, yet they continue to face persistent barriers that put their well-being at risk. Irregular work conditions, weak access to social protection, lack of documentation, limited health care and unsafe migration routes combine to create a cycle of vulnerability. Many migrants arrive at destinations like Baddi with no safety net, no awareness of their rights, and no support system to fall back on. These challenges deepen when families migrate together, leaving them exposed to exploitation, unsafe workplaces and health risks.

Caritas India’s Pravasi Bandhu program, supported by Misereor Germany, is addressing these systemic gaps through a structured intervention that connects source and destination states. The program strengthens safe migration processes, improves workers’ access to health care, enhances documentation and registration, and builds community-based support networks through migrant resource centres. At its core, Pravasi Bandhu ensures that migrant workers can move, live and work with dignity, safety and informed choices.

From 21-23 November 2025, the Pravasi Bandhu local partner, Manav Vikas Samiti team in Baddi intensified its efforts with a series of impactful outreach initiatives aimed at strengthening migrant safety and access to services.

The team began with a Safe Migration Awareness Session that reached seventy to eighty migrant workers, including families from Simdega district in Jharkhand. Many workers lacked information on safe mobility and were unaware of the importance of registering with the Simdega Migration Resource Centre (MRC). The session bridged this gap, guiding them on documentation, support systems and safer movement between source and destination. Participants valued the clarity and said the information would help them avoid unsafe recruitment and travel.

Addressing workplace vulnerabilities, the team collaborated with the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Department to conduct a session at Krisha Healthcare. Around thirty-five workers learned about workplace safety norms, safe migration practices and benefits available under the ESI scheme. For many, this was the first time they understood their entitlements and the protections they could claim. The session empowered workers with knowledge that directly impacts their safety and financial security.

Health access remains a major challenge for migrant communities. To address this gap, the Pravasi Bandhu team organised a dental health camp on 19 November 2025 with Dental Bhujjiya College, reaching thirty-five to forty-three migrants, including children and women. Led by Dr Abhijit and his team, the camp provided essential dental checkups and preventive care. Twenty individuals were referred for further treatment with a twenty percent concession. All participants received 500 ml of Colgate mouthwash from the college, promoting regular oral hygiene.

These efforts demonstrate how targeted, community-based interventions can reduce the risks migrants face at destination locations. Through safe migration awareness, workplace rights education, entitlement support and accessible health outreach, the Pravasi Bandhu program is building a stronger safety net for India’s mobile workforce.

Caritas India remains committed to ensuring that migrant workers are not invisible, unsupported, or excluded. By connecting states, mobilising partners and directly engaging with communities, Pravasi Bandhu continues to bring dignity, safety and holistic wellbeing within reach for thousands of migrant families.