Understanding the problem & it’s possible solution for migrant workers during lockdown

The Covid-19 Pandemic has instilled a deep sense of health and job insecurity, particularly amongst the migrant labours. The daily news about workers in distress is now becoming a routine course on all news channels and platforms.

Let’s understand the problem of the distress and come to a feasible solution. The Financial package of ₹1.7 lakh crore to protect migrants faces difficulty to penetrate deep down into the society.

The upfront provision of the financial package of ₹500 for poor families is not sufficient for the workers and other labours stuck in metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Delhi when we are in lockdown 3.0. There are a lot of complexities involved in order to have sailing execution.

Lets take a look at the other provisions of the Package :-

• Income support to benefit 86.9 Mn farmers.

• Wages under MGNREGA to benefit 50 Mn families.

• One-time payment of ₹1,000 to aged people, widows, disabled.

• 200 Mn women with no-frills bank A/Cs to get ₹500 for next 3 months.

• 80 Mn households to get free refill of gas cylinders for 3 months.

• Govt to pay 24% EPFO contribution of workers, firms for 3 months.

• ₹50 lakh medical insurance cover for healthcare workers.

• 35 mn construction workers to benefit from a ₹31,000 cr fund.

• District mineral funds to be used for testing and screening.

Looking at the provisions, it can be said that it does not cater directly to the migrant workers stuck in cities. Majorly the package aims to supplement only if the lockdown could have been ended after 21 days of its initial implementation.

What can be the solution for this problem ? The movement of workers back to their homes. Indeed it can be one solution to the problem but it is not immutable. As going home will only provide mental and health peace but the security of job and health crises during migration will be at stake.

The Fundamental Idea of Accommodating Employment and Community Food processing units with the help of government initiatives – Mid-day meal, Aganwadi Workers and PD systems is to ensure employment, basic earning and shelter for the migrant workers.

The way of doing this is to re-enforce Mid-day meal programme in all states(Currently active in only 6 out of 28 states) which caters to about 110 million children. The scheme can be used as a mechanism in which state government can use their existing systems and PDS to deliver food to the vulnerable people. The State government can employee the migrant works in food preparation and distribution under the guidance of Anganwadi workers.

The migrant workers in return can be provided with food rations. This will not only solve the problem of providing nutrition to the vulnerable but also ensure that the migrant workers are getting means for food and shelter.

As schools and other public institutions under this schemes are shut during the lockdown, their premises can be converted into temporary units for this model. Such initiative can help the government to provide food and shelter for the workers.

The same model can be adopted by NGOs, Religious organisations and construction companies to use their premises as a Community Food processing units employing migrant works for food preparation and distribution under the guidance of Anganwadi workers and police officials. The same premise can be used as a place for shelter for the migrant workers.

Actions on the ground can be seen, a button – up policy to help people is now being implemented. Local Corporaters across Mumbai & other districts of Maharashtra have issued a WhatsApp Number where one can just message Contact Details & Address of the person in dire need of Food Grains. And within 48 hours their team delivers Food Grains & other necessities to them.

Mind you, all this is happening in their PERSONAL CAPACITY! There are no orders or complusion as such from above, just adhering to one’s duty. Ironically, Technology has enabled people to come closer together. People having a considerable influence on Social Media are also striving their best to help people in need.

One such person is Film Producer Manish Mudra of Drishyam fame. With the help of Twitter & other ‘Tweelebs’ he has donated over 12,000 PPE Kits to various hospitals across the country. The ‘camaraderie’ between various affluent political tweelebs is clearly visible on Twitter.

India’s Democracy has a very unique demographic structure. We have the Corporater, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) & Member of Parliament (MP) working in the same area, albiet different work structure & powers.

If planned properly & divided the work in a more systematic manner, every policy can be executed in a very smooth manner. However, they need to ensure proper co-ordination between their respective teams in order to counter various issues collectively.

Former RBI Governor Dr. Raghuram Rajan has suggested a ₹65,000 Crores Stimulus to help the poor in this testing situations.

Dr. Rajan : “We will need ₹65,000 Cr, it is not that much. This is to save the lives of the poor.” He also suggested direct benefit transfers to help non-salaried lower middle class tide over the next few months.

On the other hand, Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee has suggested to NOT give money to people now, it’ll only cause inflation. Instead, the government must provide temporary ration cards to anyone who wants one as there might be people who will not be benefited from the PDS since they do not have a ration card.

Dr. Banerjee : “For 3 months, the government must issue temporary ration cards so that no one who actually needs food, is without a ration card.”

Dr. Banerjee is confident that India has enough food stocks to cater to its poor people.

Common Citizens have been the Surprising Tailenders on the field covering the mistakes of their swashbuckling batsmen!

It is commendable to see common citizens from all walks of life to play a role in helping our society in whatever capacity they could. Then be it Providing a simple meal to the poor or just providing a moratorium to pay their rents, everyone is doing their bit.

Just like that, everyone needs to collectively solve this problem & help eradicate the Coronavirus from the country.

Because that’s what makes a democracy!

An Article by – Deepanshu Bhat