“It is the right time that Caritas India takes up this initiative to stand with migrant workers through launching Pravasi Bandhu program in Jashpur district as it is one of the focal points in the state where thousands of tribal people go out to other states to earn other livelihoods,” said Mr. Uttam Dan Minj, MLA of Kunkuri block, Jashpur district, Chhattisgarh.

Caritas India inaugurated the Parvasi Bandhu program on 23^rd Sept 2021 in the presence of Mr. U.D. Minj, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Vicar General, Fr. Fulgence, GVK Director, Ms. Leeza, Thematic Lead Anti Human Trafficking and Migration, and village leaders (Sarpanch) from 20 project villages.

The program is being implemented in the states of Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Punjab, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Rajasthan. The focus is to assist, support and protect internal migrant workers and 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. The services will be provided through the help desk at the source states and Migrant Resource Centres at the destination.

Fr. Fulgence, Director of Gramin Vikas Kendra (local partner) briefed context, its framework and expected outcomes of the program. He explained the expectations while working with migrant workers, its objectives, how to go about it in achieving and what would be expected outcome in clear nut cell.

Further, Vicar General thanked Caritas India for having given thought to the tribal population and started this program in the Jashpur district which would benefit thousands of migrant workers who are unaware of their rights and become victims of agents and other exploitations.

Moreover, Mr. U. D. Minj, MLA ensured Caritas India of his support and requested to expand the intervention to other villages too in the area so that more people get benefits from the program.

At Rajasthan, the official program launch of the Pravasi Bandhu Program was conducted on 28^th September 2021 at Banswara District of Rajasthan. Preema Dhruve and Tina Garasia from Ajeevika Bureau Kushalgarh, Sr. Christi and Fr. Johnson from Holy cross, Tambesra, Mukesh Surawat, GP Tamresha Sarpanch, Bhimaji Amliyar, UP Sarpanch, Tambesra, Manilal Patel from Agriculture Dept., Khaturam -Ward Panch Tamresha,  Hurtin Kamol, GP Tima mouhri Sarpanch, Sr. Jermina Lakra  Social Worker, Ratnapura, Ganji Hingara, Coordinator, Manas Unidas, Parsingh Bhabor Coordinator, Safal project, Fr. Kulranjan Director SJVS, Suresh Baria Program Coordinator Pravasi Bandhu program, Suparna from Caritas India and other staffs of SJVS participated in the inaugural ceremony.

Around 50 migrant workers who go to work in Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh actively participated in the event.

The program was initiated by SJVS Pravasi Bandhu Coordinator Mr. Suresh Baria addressing the program objectives and its goal. He addressed the needs of migrants and how this program will impact their life and stated various schemes and entitlements for the migrants. He also shared about the Migrants Help desk of the Pravasi Bandhu program and highlighted the role of Caritas India in this program. He also highlighted the importance of E shram card and requested the people to register themselves into the E-shram portal.

Sharing about the empowerment of the migrants, Fr. Kulranjan Director of SJVS stated that it is very important to keep the voices alive so they can raise their own rights. He shared that there are various govt. schemes for them, unfortunately, they do not reach out to the workers because of lack of awareness and there is no one to facilitate the same. However, Pravasi Bandhu is the first-ever program in Banswara that has recognizes the invisible issues of the workers who often face such challenges, and this is a much-needed program at this hour. He pointed out few cases where the workers do not receive their wages and finally come back to the villages with nothing in their hands. He shared that how this program will help all the migrants to ensure their rights. For the better reach of this program Father Kulranjan requested to highlight the event in the local newspaper of Rajasthan (Dainik Vaskar).

Mukesh Surawat, GP Tamresha Sarpanch conveyed his thanks to SJVS and Cartas India and continued to add what Suresh Baria- Coordinator of Pravasi Bandhu SJVS had spoken earlier regarding registration in E sharm. The panchayat is ready to cooperate in all the matters regarding registration and will see the charging amount at a minimum rate for each family registration. To this, villagers shared that they are ready to register themselves in the E-shram portal with the minimum cost.

Suparna from Caritas India shared that Pravasi Bandhu Program is working in 8 states of India and Rajasthan is one of the states where Caritas is working and a large number of people from Rajasthan goes out for work. This objective of the program will ensure safe migration and ensure the improved working conditions of the migrants. She further stated about help desk and said that a database will be maintained for the workers who go out for work and also while going out if any migrant workers face a problem he/she should contact to the help desk.  On behalf of Caritas India, she extended sincere thanks to the villagers who have participated in the event, Govt. of Rajasthan and also other invited guests of the event.

Preema Dhruve and Tina Garasia from Ajeevika Bureau Kushalgarh shared about the importance of registering on the relevant schemes meant for them and highlighted the challenges faces by women while going out for work. She shared that woman often falls sick due to excessive hard work and therefore it is very necessary to take care of their health and nutrition status. She announced that Aajeevika will be conducting a registration camp for enrolling villagers into various schemes to which he urged the migrants to register themselves.

Program conclusion was drawn by coordinator Suresh Baria to which he shared once again the importance of the program in the life of the villagers and thanked all of them for participating in the event.