Time and again, migrant issues break out in the local and national media, but no definite actions are taken. The grave reality of the migrant situation surfaced during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, which opened the eyes of other sections of society who are affluent and well-to-do.

Though the pandemic is over, the situation of migrants remains the same. They turn into simple prey for abuse, extortion, and exploitation because of a lack of a strong support system within their families, information gaps, or missing document systems within their families, information gaps, or missing documents. A number of these migrants are also involved in employment in the informal sector, making them some of the most vulnerable working groups, which further excludes them from social security benefits and even basic rights at the workplace. The challenges of housing, education, employment, and health care are faced by migrants on a day-to-day basis.

A study done by Caritas India in Kerala revealed that none of the migrant workers was enrolled under the Interstate Migrant Workers Welfare Scheme and only 23% were enrolled under the health insurance of the Kerala government. 95.3% of migrant workers are not part of any trade union associations. Most of the migrant workers work in an environment that makes them more vulnerable to health problems. Most of them live at the work site or in slum areas.

The intervention that started during the pandemic to support the migrants continues to date in Caritas India. The call of Pope Francis to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate migrants holds the most relevance for Caritas India.

The migrant community has limited access to healthcare in the cities where they work. They often tend to neglect to access healthcare as it could cost them a day’s wages. The hazardous nature of jobs undertaken by migrants makes them vulnerable to injuries. Caritas India, with the support of CHARIS, is supporting the migrant community in Kerala that cannot access healthcare services.

94 medical kits were distributed to the migrant families at Surabhikavala, Pulpally, and Sulthan Bathery in the Wayanad District of Kerala. The kit consists of paracetamol, pain relief spray, antiseptic lotion, betadine solution, bandages, crepe bandages, gauze, scissors, and a medicine box. These migrant workers are mainly working at construction sites or farms and are susceptible to injury or harm.

Mr. Muhammed Hanil Ali, a migrant worker, told one of Caritas India’s volunteers that “They are usually working with a sharp knife to remove the outer shells of areca nuts, and there are chances to cut off their fingers severely. So, this medical kit was very useful to them.”

Apart from the distribution of medical kits, an awareness and orientation session on health insurance was conducted by Mr. Delbin, the Project Coordinator of Don Bosco, where he also explained the use of medicines included in the medical kit.