India: Salesian Provincial Conference of South Asia holds national workshop on migrants

The Salesian Provincial Conference of South Asia organized the Don Bosco Migrants Consultation and National Workshop on "Decent Work and Living Conditions for Internal Migrants in India" on July 11–12.

Nitika Don Bosco Kolkata hosted the All-India Don Bosco Migrant Desk Initiative.

The workshop offered a forum to exchange knowledge and experience, empower Don Bosco's Migrants Team, and form Trade Unions to address the issues of unorganized workers.

The Director of Migrant Ministry, Archdiocese of Kolkata, Dr. Sunil Rosario, was the chief guest, along with Kolkata Provincial Dr. Joseph Pauria.

The difficulties faced by migrants and unorganized workers, social security and occupational health, safety, and working conditions, migrant helplines, unorganized street vendors, and migrant assistance and information networking were among the subjects studied.

BOSCOM South Asia organized Voice of the Voiceless on July 12 at Don Bosco Okhla in New Delhi as a platform to hear the voices of youth on issues like migrants, unemployment, digital addiction, and substance abuse.

Over 20 youths from various Salesian provinces in India presented on the topics mentioned above.

Three speakers spoke on behalf of Kolkata Province: Jaikab Tirkey from North Bengal discussed migration; Kishan Kisku from Central Bengal discussed unemployment; and Ronald Roy from South Bengal discussed unemployment.

AJ Philips, a senior journalist based in New Delhi, was the keynote speaker.

Internal migration is one of India's biggest problems as the world's most populated country.

India had a population of 1.21 billion people in 2011; the most recent data available included 456 million internal migrants.

In India, about two-thirds of the population is under 35, and many young people from rural areas move to the city in search of work, working as low-paid laborers, drivers, or household servants. Many come from Uttar Pradesh.

Pradesh is India’s most populous state, along with the neighboring state of Bihar, where the population is growing more quickly than in other parts of the country.

Most migrants who flock from rural areas to cities in search of jobs land in precarious jobs, and they have hardly any political power to negotiate their wages. In general, migrants come from poorly developed and predominantly rural areas in the north and east, though internal migration is common across the nation.

There are no good jobs available, and most migrants lack the skills needed for long-term employment.

With their meager wages, they cannot invest in housing or the education of their children in cities. They struggle to live in cities where the cost of living is so exorbitant, and finally, they land up in crowded slums.

They also face many challenges in availing themselves of social welfare schemes provided by the government, healthcare, and better amenities. Moreover, some become victims of crimes in slums.

Migrant workers are the foundation of many industries, according to a 2020 International Labour Organization report, contributing 10% of India's GDP.