The COVID-19 pandemic has been an eye-opener for mainstream India to realise the vulnerabilities of migrant workers in the country. Among the southern states, Kerala has emerged as a major destination for migrant workers.

As per the state government’s Post Disaster Needs Assessment 2018, there are 34.85 lakh migrants in Kerala. Inter-state migrant workers have become an important and integral part of the economy of the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Caritas India developed a program called PRAVASI BANDHU to assist, support, and protect internal migrant workers. The main focus is to create awareness among the potential migrant workers, skill-building, linking them with employment opportunities, ensure identity card, registration, creating a database for rights and entitlements, financial inclusion, skill enhancement of women migrant workers at the destination, education of children of migrant workers, policy engagement and networking at state and national level. 

As part of Navajeevan Pravasi Bandhu, MRC SUDHAAR programme Welfare Services Ernakulam, Kerala, organized Educational Support Programme on 8th June at SPW School Aluva in Ernakulam District. Twenty educational kits were distributed to the children as a part of the “Pravasi Bandhu” (Migrant Resource Center) with the support of Caritas India and Generous funding from Caritas Germany. Ms. Raji Santhosh (President, Choornikkara Grama Panchayath) inaugurated the distribution programme along with Fr. Joseph Koluthuvellil (Director, Sahrudaya). The students were mainly from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Nepal and Srilanka. Ms. Leena Jayan (Ward Member, Choornikkara Grama Panchayat) facilitated the program and Ms. Leena O B (Headmistress, SWPUP School, Companyppady) delivered the vote of thanks in the meeting. Fr Ancil Maippan (Assistant Director, Sahrudaya), Teachers, Parents Teachers Association members were also part of the programme. 

On 9 th June WSE distributed educational kits to five more migrant’s children in St. Mary’s School, Chittoor. Fr. Ancil Maippan (Assistant Director, Welfare Services Ernakulam) inaugurated the program. Mr Abhilash (faculty, St Mary’s School, Chittoor) delivered the welcome speech and Mr Antony V X, Headmaster, St Mary’s UP school, Chittoor) delivered the vote of thanks in the program. 

Medical Camp for Migrants 

In Kerala, the majority of migrant workers suffered a low level of employment due to the pandemic and lockdown. Due to the widespread covid cases in the second wave, they have lost their jobs and some even affected by the virus.

In this situation, on 10th June 2021, Welfare Services Ernakulam organized a medical camp for migrant labours and their families as part of the Pravasi Bandhu (MRC Sudhaar program) in Vazhakkulam Panchayat, at Ernakulam District. The camp was organized with the support of CMID. (Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development) and Kerala AIDS Control Society. Mr Gopalakrishnan (Vazhakkulam, Panchayath President) inaugurated the medical camp and Fr Joseph Koluthuvellil (Director, Welfare Services Ernakulam) distributed the medical kits to the migrants. Dr Binoy Peter (Director CMID), Mr. Rejy Koshiy Daniel (Head of sustainable banking, ESAF) , Mr Midhun Mohan (Head of CSR), Ms. Malu (Project Manager, KSACS) facilitated the program. Forty migrant workers including pregnant women were part of the medical camp and WSE distributed masks to the migrant workers living in the area.

The majority of Migrants workers lives in a poor condition and due to lockdown, they do not have enough work. Some of them are in contact with positive cases but they are staying with other migrants. In this particular situation, KAIROS Kannur with the support of Caritas India as part of the Sudhaar Programme organized a Medical camp for Migrant workers on 16th June 2021 as a part of the Navajeevan Pravasi Bandhu MRC Programme with the support of St. Martin De Porras hospital in Pazhayangady. Thirty-five Migrants participated in the programme and the Antigen test for fifteen Migrants were conducted in the camp. As part of the Medical camp, thirty-five medical kits were also distributed to the migrants.  

Mr. M. Rajan, Madayi, Panchayath President inaugurated the programme and the program was presided over by Fr. Shaiju Peter. Fr. Shiron Antony, Dr. Padmanabhan, Dr. Alan, Sr. Mary Joseph were present.