Migrant Workers: The Foundation of Development, Yet the Most Vulnerable
Bihar is one of the major states in India from where millions of youth and workers migrate to other states every year in search of livelihood. The hands of these workers build skyscrapers in metropolitan cities, construct roads, drive industries, and strengthen the nation’s economy. Ironically, however, the very people who contribute significantly to development remain among the most vulnerable. Living thousands of kilometers away from their homes, migrant workers are often deprived of fair wages, safe working conditions, social security, healthcare facilities, and legal protection. Many become victims of workplace accidents, unpaid wages, human trafficking, bonded labour, unsafe working environments, and exploitation. In such situations, their families also suffer economic, social, and emotional hardships. This is not merely the problem of an individual worker; it is a serious issue related to human dignity, social justice, and constitutional rights.
Safe Migration: A Right, Not Merely an Option
The Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the right to live with dignity, equal opportunities, and social justice. Safe migration is an extension of these constitutional rights. Whenever a worker leaves home in search of employment, ensuring his or her safety, identity, access to social security schemes, and legal protection becomes the collective responsibility of the State and society. This principle forms the foundation of the concept of safe migration. Safe migration does not merely mean travelling from one place to another; it means ensuring dignity, security, legal protection, and access to social security throughout the worker’s employment journey.
An Initiative of Dalit Vikas Abhiyan Samiti: A Strong Centre of Hope
With this vision, Dalit Vikas Abhiyan Samiti (DVAS), with the support of People’s Courage International Inc., has established the District Migration Resource Centre at Bodh Gaya, Gaya, as a model initiative under the Migrant Resilience Collective (MRC) Project. This Centre is not merely an office; it is a centre of trust, guidance, rights, and protection for migrant and unorganised workers. Here, workers receive pre-migration counselling, registration support, linkage with government welfare schemes, grievance redressal assistance, and guidance related to safe employment. Its objective is to ensure that no worker is deprived of his or her rights due to a lack of information.
‘Jan Saathi’: A Bridge of Trust Between the Community and the Government
The greatest strength of this initiative is the “Jan Saathi”. Working at the community level, Jan Saathis visit villages to identify migrant workers, facilitate their registration, create awareness on safe migration, and connect them with various social security schemes. They serve as a reliable bridge between workers and government institutions. To provide timely guidance and assistance, a Toll-Free Helpline: 1800-120-11211 is also operational, enabling workers to seek support whenever they face any difficulty.
