State level convention of the Migrant Labourers in Udupi district
Posted on October 13, 2017
“Provide us with water, and we will maintain cleanliness”, was the vehement response by members of the Migrant Labourers Union, when asked by a Member of Legislative Council, to maintain cleanliness.
Today, at Rajangana Shri Krishna Matta,Udupi, Kararnata , over 600 people; representatives from Karnataka Migrant Labour Union, Bhima Sangha ( Union of Working Children ) , the Concerned for Working Children, elected representatives from the state and local level, government officials, the press ,civil society and students from Manipal University, St Mary’s college ,and Milagres College; participated in the Karnataka Migrant Workers’ Samavesha to dialogue issues of constant denial of protection and provision rights to the Migrant Labour Community in Udupi district.
The event was organized by the Karnataka Migrant Workers’ Union with the support of the Concerned for Working Children. The event commenced with a procession throughout the Udupi city from Chitranjan circle to Rajanagana Shri Krushna Matta.
Migrant Union members presented their issues during the Samavesha and in addition, provided documents to the elected representatives and government officials detailing the protection and provision issues based on the migrant labour community area.
Sreedevi, a Migrant Union member stated the lack of provision issues such as irregularities in the availability of water; lack of proper housing, sanitation and electricity facilities and the protection issues especially for women and children that arise out of it. Vanishree, a Migrant Union member pointed to the difficulties that they experience in obtaining labour cards; the need to forgo work for a few days in order to obtain one.
Bhima Sangha members Shilpa and Suralakshmi pointed to the discrimination that they experience at school for belonging to the migrant labourer community. In addition, they stated the effects on their education due to the denial of provisions such as electricity and water.
In response to the presentation and the document detailing the issues, Mr Pramod Madhavraj ( Member of Legislative Assembly and Cabinet Minister ) stated that within fifteen days he would arrange for a meeting with the district administration, where the Migrant Union representatives would be invited, and the mentioned issues taken up to be solved within a time frame. In addition, he promised to take the issue of several crores of unspent amounts as part of the Karnataka Construction Workers’ Welfare Fund, and find a resolution to it.
Mrs Shilpa Nag, Assistant Commissioner, assured the gathering that she would discuss with the District Commissioner, and provide night shelter facilities for seasonal migrant workers in Udupi city similar to the existing provision in Kundapur town.
Mr Vishwanath, Labour Inspector, stated that the department would immediately commence a registration drive for Labour Card at migrant labourer communities; which would resolve the inconvenience that the migrant labour community face in this regard. The Assistant Commissioner added that to avail Labour Card, Aadhar wasn’t required and any identification would suffice.
Here is the press coverage of the event:
The Hindu: Respond positively to demands of migrant workers, says seer
Kannada Prabha (Udupi Edition):
