Problems of the Migrant Workers

One of the most pressing social problems that I see around is the difficulty faced by the migrant workers. Blatantly visible right from my residence, I see these workers come from states like UP and Bihar and settle here in tents or other temporary houses for the majority of the year. They are cut off from their families and rarely visit them and the Covid crisis has now dented the minute chance of them doing so.

As they usually work in the construction industry, their work continues despite the crisis and they are deprived of good food, shelter and have no access to healthcare. They are faced with a dilemma of either returning home and proving of no use there, or working here, risking their lives. Numerous workers are scared of either receiving or transmitting the virus. Many of them are also terrified because they may lose their wages in case they fall sick.

I think this problem persists because we don’t consider the issues of these workers seriously. We think of them as ‘second class citizens’ and treat them as expendable. Their living and working conditions are abysmal. They neither have local representation nor are documented by the district administration. This kind of discrimination is unheard of and makes things difficult.

The problem exists due to many contract violations and extremely unsafe working conditions offered by the employers. As a society, I think that we need more proactive steps to ensure better health, safer working conditions, emotional support groups and local representation for them.

Thus, if thought about carefully, with good planning, starting from a level as low as our locality, together, we can eradicate this problem and ensure for the workers, a better future!