Civil society voices conern on protection of migrant workers

On the eve of International Migrants Day a consultation on ‘Migration & Human Trafficking in Odisha’ was organised at Bhubaneswar  

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Bhubaneswar: On the eve of International Migrants Day, Aide et Action, an International NGO working on the issues of migrant workers, organised a consultation on ‘Migration & Human Trafficking in Odisha’ at a hotel in Bhubaneswar.

Inaugurating the consultation Hon’ble Justice Mr. Bira Kishore Mishra (retd) and former acting chairperson of Odisha Human Rights Commission said that intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations should act in a better-coordinated way through the dissemination of information on human rights of migrants and through sharing of experiences and the design of actions to ensure the protection of migrants.

Presenting the overview of Odisha migration, Migration expert and Director – Migration & Education of Aide et Action shared that underdeveloped western and southern districts experience large-scale family migration to brick kiln industries located at growing cities within and outside of the state. According to the information of the department of labour, govt. of Odisha 1.04 lakh people have been migrated through registration under interstate migrant workmen Act. However, informal studies estimate that more than 2.5 lakh people, only from western and southern districts, migrate with families to work in the brick kiln sites. While migrating with families through an illegal process of recruitment by middlemen many of them often face exploitation, abuse and bondage situation at worksites. Accompanying children become deprived of care, nutrition, health, and education services.

Political scientist and a prominent human rights defender shared that the issues of refugees, asylum seekers and the victims of trafficking should be treated in a humanely manner.

Highlighting the issues of migrant children and how child trafficking can be curbed, Member of Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) Mr Harihar Naik appealed that there should be better coordination between the migrant children sending and receiving states.

Sharing their experiences victims of labour trafficking and persons who are migrating narrated about their process of recruitment, transportation, workplace environment and wage pattern, which is a clear indication of trafficking of migrant labourers in Odisha. The participants felt that — a strong policy and its effective implementation is highly required to ensure human rights and dignity among migrant workers in Odisha.

Among others Mr Laxminarayan Nanda, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, Odisha, Trade Union leader Mr Mahendra Parida, Ms Kuntirani Padhan, research associate, National Law University Odisha, Dr Hrushikesh Meher, Faculty, Biju Patnaik State Police Academy, Bhubaneswar, Mr Gourishyam Panda, convenor of Western Odisha Migration Network and Ms Lalita Missal of Nawo and Urban planner Dr Piyush Rout presented their views during the consultation.

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