The Migration Bulletin is a fortnightly round-up that captures issues related to migration that have been reported on various media platforms. In its second edition, we look at the violent attacks migrants faced in Meghalaya and a new legislation that aims to protect them and an app launched in Kerala that connects blue collar workers with jobs, among other stories.
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Migrant protection legislation in Meghalaya
A spate of attacks on migrant workers in Meghalaya has led to the state government enact a new legislation - the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety and Security) of Migrant Workers, Amendment Bill 2024 - last month with an aim to safeguard migrants in the state, the Hindustan Times reported on August 30, 2024.
The new legislation, which is an amendment to the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety and Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020, has imposed harsher penalties on employers - a fine of one lakh rupees, up from 5000 rupees earlier, and a jail term for three months - for employers who fail to register migrants working for them.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma tabled this bill and stated that registration is necessary for the safety of migrant workers and helps maintain a database, reported the Assam Tribune. The Meghalaya police have increased patrols and are conducting investigations to nab the people who are behind the violent attacks on the migrant workers.
In recent months, several workers were assaulted by pro-Inner Line Permit activists who raided the construction sites. Over 2500 workers were forced to leave the state, according to the Hindustan Times report. The new amendments deal with situations like harassment, intimidation and discrimination and would protect both locals and migrant workers, authorities said.
Housing scheme extended for more workers
The Labour Ministry has asked all the states to include marginalised workers such as migrants, cine workers, beedi workers, coal mine workers, and several other unorganised workers for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), The Economic Times reported on September 3.
The Union Cabinet took this decision after ratifying a five-year extension for the PMAY, extending the scheme up to 2028-29, which would add two crore houses for those eligible. The labour ministry stressed that covering disadvantaged workers under PMAY is both a matter of social justice and essential for improving their living conditions, the newspaper reported.
The ministry announced that the Management Information System (MIS) portal, launched on August 21, 2024, for Building, Construction, and Migrant Workers, which is now fully operational will facilitate the collection and analysis of data on fund utilization and workers’ coverage under various schemes. The portal will help state governments and union territories make informed decisions and create effective welfare policies for these workers, according to the government.
The ministry emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to uplift marginalized workers and instructed welfare commissioners to work closely with local authorities for effective implementation of the housing scheme. Regular review meetings are scheduled from August 30 to October 4 to assess progress.
“This move is expected to significantly improve the lives of millions of workers, ensuring they receive the housing and social security benefits they rightfully deserve,” the ministry added.
In June, the Union Cabinet resolved to assist three crore additional rural and urban households with housing construction to meet the growing demand of the scheme. PMAY-U 2.0, with an investment of Rs 10 lakh crore, aims to address the housing needs of one crore families, ensuring an improved quality of life for every citizen, the Centre stated, according to a Financial Express report.
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, launched by the Central Government in 2015, aims to provide affordable housing for the poor. It includes PMAY-U (Urban), which offers financial assistance, subsidies, and interest subsidies for urban housing, and PMAY-G (Gramin), which aims to provide a pucca house to every rural household that was homeless or in inadequate housing by 2022.
Kerala launches app to connect migrants with jobs
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan earlier this month rolled out an application “Bhailog App” which focuses on revolutionizing the job market for blue-collar migrant workers. This app was launched in 2023 and pitched in 2022 by TKM College of Engineering alumni Asif Ayoob, Ashik Azad, and Gokul Mohan.
The Hindu reported on September 5 that Bhailog’s makers introduced the term ‘Migrant Tech’, and designed the app to assist labourers in finding daily work by connecting them to job opportunities. Users are verified before applying, lowering the risk for employers and creating a practical solution for both workers and employers.
The app will be available on the Play Store, providing real-time updates and a seamless wage payment system. The app seeks to address challenges such as job insecurity and exploitation often faced by blue-collar workers.
West Bengal migrant lynched in Haryana over beef consumption suspicion
Seven people, including two juveniles, were arrested by Haryana police for allegedly lynching Sabir Malik, a migrant worker from West Bengal, over suspicions of beef consumption. Malik, a ragpicker living with his family in Charkhi Dadri, was beaten to death on August 27.
The accused were identified as Abhishek, Mohit, Ravinder, Kamaljit, and Sahil, Police said.
On August 27, in Hansawas Khurd village, a group of individuals accused ragpickers of consuming beef. Deputy Superintendent of Police Dheeraj Kumar told The Indian Express, “Forensic and veterinary experts inspected the spot and the meat samples were seized to determine if it was beef. The report was awaited.”
That same day, Sabir Malik, a resident and a migrant worker, was violently assaulted by the accused, resulting in his death. Kumar detailed, “The accused called Malik and his friend Aseeruddin to a shop under the pretence of selling empty plastic bottles. They assaulted both, but Aseeruddin escaped while Malik was taken away and beaten again before his body was found.” Malik’s body was discovered near his shanty. The Haryana police have arrested the suspects.
Malik’s Brother-in-law, Surajuddin Sarker said three men approached Sabir, claiming they had discarded material to sell. “He went with them, was beaten near the market, and then at a distant location. His body was found in a nullah around 4.45 pm.” Sarker said.
TMC Rajya Sabha member Samirul Islam condemned the lynching, describing it as “a horrific incident”.
“We are with the family. Our government is in touch with the Haryana government. Migrant workers from Bengal are being targeted in various states. Recently, they were beaten up in Odisha,” he was quoted as saying in The Indian Express.
According to a Hindustan Times report, dated August 31, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the lynching of the West Bengal migrant worker by cow vigilantes was not “mob lynching”. He said the state had strict cow protection laws and that there was “no compromise on it”.
Saini also said, “Villagers have so much respect for cows that if they are informed about such things, then who can stop them? I want to say that such incidents should not happen and these incidents are unfortunate.”
Kumar confirmed that a case has been registered and the accused are in police custody.
‘Forced to sell baby’
In Patiala’s Ropar, police busted a gang involved in trafficking of newborn babies of migrant workers last month.
The trafficking case came to light after Suraj Kumar, a migrant worker who hails from Bihar and currently lives in Nangal Selampur village in Maksudan, Jalandhar, lodged a complaint with the police saying they were pressurised to sell their newborn son by an Asha worker, The Times of India reported, on August 19, 2024.
The migrant family had met the Asha worker, Kulwinder Kaur, after the child was born and she brought the family to her place for more than 10 days and covered all their expenses as well. During their stay at her place, she introduced them to Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy, an inhabitant of Araichan village, Doraha. They first told Kumar he would be thrown out of his house and that his family was too poor to raise or properly take care of the child and would be best to sell him.
Succumbing to the pressure, the family went to Ropar where Kaur and Singh had invited Amandeep Kaur and Rajinder Kaur to negotiate the deal. The police have registered cases against all four.
Compiled by: Mansi Bhaktwani
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