Wisdom of Life

Pravasi Bandhu

Programmes

About

TIMELINE: From 01-04-2021 to 31-03-2023
An estimated 5-6 million migrants are on the move every year in India, travelling from some of its poorer states to newly emerging urban zones. According to International Labour Organisation (ILO), about 400 million people working in the informal economy in India are at risk of falling deeper into poverty due to the coronavirus crisis. Caritas India along with her member organisations is committed to upholding the dignity and well-being of migrant
workers.

To address the dire need of migrants, Pravasi Bandhu programme was launched in June 2021. This program is implemented in three source states and four destination states in India covering majorly all the prominent source states where migrants travel regularly in search of better livelihood.  The main focus is to create awareness among the potential migrant workers, skill building, linking them with employment opportunities, ensure identity card,
registration, creat database for rights and entitlements, financial inclusion, skill enhancement of women migrant workers at destination, education of children of migrant workers, policy engagement and networking at state and national level. The services will be provided through help desk at the source states and Migrant Resource Centres at the destination.

Implementing Partners:

  • 9 Diocesan Social Service Societies (DSSSs) that include
  • 3 source states – Vikash Kendra,
    Simdega, Jharkhand, Grameen Vikash Kendra Kunkuri, Chhattisgarh, and Sampurna Jeevan
    Vikas Samiti, Banswara, Rajasthan
  • 6 destination states – 3 partners from Delhi namely
    Chetanalaya, Prachodana Social service Society, Nirmana (Secular NGO) and Caritas Goa,
    Manav Vikas Samiti, Chandigarh and  Sabarmati Samruddhi Seva Sangh Gandhinagar.

Geographical Reach:  Pravasi Bandhu will attain its goal by working in eight states of India including 57 villages in source states and 17 worksites from destination states. Pravasi Bandhu programme is covering 10 districts and 5 blocks. Details are given below in the table:

Sl. No State Districts Villages/Location
1 Rajasthan Banswara 17 villages
2 Punjab Chandigarh 3 slums
3 Jharkhand Simdega 20 villages
4 Chhattisgarh Jashpur 20 villages
5 Delhi North Delhi Two slums- Mukundpur colony, Jahangirpuri
6 Delhi South West Delhi 4 locations- Haiderpur, Pitampura, Dwarka Sector 15, Bawana Worksite
7 Haryana Gurgaon 84,85,89,99 blocks
8 Goa North & South Goa Pilerne, Saligao, Mapusa and Murmugao
9 Gujarat Gandhinagar Uvarsad village, Bhat village and Sector 06

Demographic Reach:

Sl. No Content Total
1 Total Number of States 8
2 Total Number of villages 57
3 Total Number of Gram Panchayat 3
4 Total Number of Blocks 5
5 Total Number of Districts 10
6 Total Covered Population 1,22,500
7 Total Households 24,500
8 Male & Female (population) (M-63,700) (F-58,800)

 

Highlights of the Program:

  • Migrant, potential migrants at source locations are provided pre-departure training and safe migration process. Gram Sabha/ local panchayat are involved in the safe migration process so that they can take preventive actions.
  • Migrant women are provided skill training/livelihood and entitlements. Self-Help groups are formed and are linked with banks.
  • Migrant workers working in the construction sites are provided awareness on occupational hazards and risks, basic first aid and workplace safety and security.
  • Migrants are registered under BOCW at source and destination states and also they are registered to other social security benefits through Migrant resource centres. Referral services are also provided such as wage recovery cases.
  • Interaction with the contractor and a Network of contractors and labour associations are functionalized for taking up migrant workers issues and campaigns.
  • National level conference was organised to bring into one platform of the migrants’ issue and develop national policy for migrants.

Impact

  • 20 migrants have received PAN card.
  • 21 migrants have received Aadhar card.
  • 50 migrants received Building and Other Construction Worker (BOCW) card.
  • 1120 Migrants are registered in E sharm portal.
  • 10 migrant workers have received old pension benefits.
  • 15 migrants have received widow pension.
  • 2500 migrants have received Ayushman Bharat cards.
  • 16 migrants have MGNREGA cards.
  • 171 migrants have received cash benefits from Delhi Govt in time of covid.
  • 5 SHGs of women migrants formed.

Events

  • Launching of Pravasi Bandhu Program: Pravasi Bandhu program was launched virtually and orientation Workshop was held on 8 th & 9 th of April 2021. At the very outset Fr. Paul Moonjely Executive Director Caritas India in his opening message stated that Caritas India is emphasizing on addressing and building larger framework for the migration issue at hand in current given context in India.
  • Baseline Assessment: Baseline Survey was initiated for the Pravasi Bandhu Program to understand the present living conditions of the migrant workers inhabiting in the respective partners project sites and capture the project indicators. It started in the month of September. The assessment used quantitative methodology. 29 villages of each source state consisting of 3332 total population and 6 worksites from destination consisting of 3837 population destination states were selected for the assessment. The selection of respondents was done through two-stage cluster sampling. The primary data was collected using a survey questionnaire with migrant workers, in the project intervention areas.
  • Capacity Building Training on Rights and Entitlement: Training on rights and entitlements was organised on 19 th May 2021 virtually. Advocate Mr. Chirayu Jain was the resource person.
  • Capacity Building Training on the theme “Migration”-Training on the theme “Migration” was organised by Caritas India on 6 th August 2021. The training was given by Mr. Mahesh Gajera from Aajeevika Bureau, the Destination Head of Aajeevika Bureau. He discussed about the conditions of Migrant labours in India, the push and pull factors contribution towards bringing workers to the urban city. As per his understanding.
  • Webinar on World Day against trafficking in Person: Cross Learning Webinar on World Day against trafficking in Person was organised on 27 th July 2021 (WDATIPs) with the theme “Victim voices lead the Way” to raise awareness on the issue among public, policymakers and Civil societies. The eminent speakers for this Webinar were Dr.PM Nair, former Inspector Police office, Sr. Prema Chowallur, Director, Rainbow Home of Seven Sisters, Regional Co-Ordinator AMRAT, Dr. K. Krishnan, Executive Director, Foundation for sustainable Development, National Coalition to End Bonded Labour & Human Trafficking, Mr. Insaf Nizam from International Labour Organisation, Fr. Paul Moonjely Executive Director Caritas India, Mr. Digambar Narzary, Director NEDAN Foundation delivered keynote address to the participants. Dr. Fr. Paul Executive Director in his address said that it would be better if we could address the term “victim” as “person “would be a more dignified way of addressing and befitting.
  • World Day of Refugees and Migrant’s Workers webinar: Pravasi Bandhu Desk organized Event on World Day of Refugees and Migrants and inauguration of Migrants Resource Centres (MRC). The purpose of the event was to spread the establishment of MRCs in all the project locations and create an awareness among all regarding providing services to migrant workers in the country.
  • Inauguration of Migrant Resource Centre (MRC): Migrant Resource Centre was officially inaugurated in this quarter in all the DSSS offices to help migrants in accessing the entitlements, promoting safe migration practices and protection of the vulnerable in every possible way. The Help desk was established in source states to promote safe migration at nearest transportation hub such as bus stands or railway stations. Through Migration resource centres, many migrants began benefitting in the form of registration of Labour Card (BOCW), Aadhar Card, Pan Card, and opening Bank accounts and so on.
  • Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow- Women Migrant Workers: Gaps and Opportunities: A national webinar was held on 8th March 2022 through a virtual platform to mark the international women’s day. Keeping the focus on the women migrant workers, the programme was marked by an intensive discussion on crucial issues of women migrants, creating safe corridors and possible strategies that can be initiated. On international women’s day, Caritas India hoped that the discussion would usher in a new and positive thought process through the experiences of resource persons in various fields under the domain of migration and the labour market.
  • Orientation Programme for Linking Source and Destination: A meeting was held with the partners so that a cooperative trust can be formed for migrants who are coming for work from source to destination states so they can be ethically recruited and placed through Pravasi Bandhu partners. Wherever they are placed, they will be regularly monitored so that they are not exploited, and basic facilities are provided to them.
  • Act Together to Build a Positive, Safe and Healthy Culture: Caritas India had joined the celebration of the International Labour Day at the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Memorial in New Delhi on 2 nd May 2022 to mark the important event with her three partners under the Pravasi Bandhu program – Nirmana, Prachodana and Chetanalaya based in Delhi, India. The major focus of the programme was to discuss the issues of migrant workers and the role of the government to respond to the issues.
  • Building Lives of Migrants Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow:  “Migration And SDGs” National Conference on Migration: Caritas India had organised a National Conference on Migration on 25th May at Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru. The theme of this conference was on “Building lives of migrants today for a sustainable tomorrow: Migration and SDGs”.
  • Training On Migrant Resource Centre: The training on migrant resource centre was held on 27th May at ISI Bangalore which was led by resource person Dr. Meera Sethi, former envoy of India (International Organisation for Migration). The training was attended by more than 40 staff who are working on migration from 12 states of India. Migrant Resource Centre (MRCs) serve as a bridge and ‘one-stop shop” for information and services for migrants. As of now Caritas India has established and launched 12 MRCs in the different parts of the country. The training provided a platform reflect on the strength, opportunities, Weakness and Challenges.
  • Launch of Pravasi Bandhu Mobile Application: Caritas India launched a mobile application for the safe and smooth movement of migrant workers in the country. The app, Pravasi Bandhu (Friends of Migrants), was jointly launched by Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore and Manjunath Gangadhara, additional labour commissioner of Bengaluru, on May 25. The live demonstration of the mobile app was moderated by Mr. Sheetanshu Srivastava who helped into developing the app. The app can be downloaded from Play Store through an Android mobile phone and will help migrant workers access information about their rights and the procedure for registering to gain access to social security and health benefits.
  • International Domestic Workers Day Celebration at partners level under PRAVASI BANDHU programme: Caritas India under the Pravasi Bandhu program had joined the celebration of International Domestic Workers Day with Nirmana one of her partner organisations in Delhi which works for the rights of domestic workers. The event was inaugurated by the leaders of domestic workers addressing prayers and
    a welcome speech. Around 60 domestic workers and their leaders participated in the event in Haiderpur Delhi.

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