Activists unite for health and education of migrant children

Migrant children have the right to access basic services and entitlements at worksites in urban areas was voiced in a one-day state level consultation organised by Aide et Action International - South Asia in collaboration with Bernard van Leer Foundation on Tuesday.

The meeting also aimed at sensitising on the need and aspiration of migrant families’ children at the worksites in cities and strengthening convergence and collaboration with the government departments to extend services that include Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), education, protection and healthcare.

Rajendra, assistant commissioner labour department, Telangana in his inaugural address said, “We gave the responsibility to the construction owners to collect the data of parents and children, who migrate from various parts of the country. Based on this, we will plan a schedule on protection and safeguarding rights of migrant families.”

Umi Daniel, migration thematic head, Aide et Action, speaking about the challenges and issues faced by migrant children said, “Half of the migrant child life is spent in a brick kiln. The first 1,000 days of a child are very important for cognitive development, but it is not the same in case of children migrants. In the search of livelihood and income, migrant families move to various parts of the country. However, the most neglected are children who are exposed to dust, pollution and are deprived of education at the working locations. They need parental support, hence it is important for the industries to provide crèches in the construction sites.”

Sandhya, joint director, dept of women and children welfare, Telangana, called for a civil society convergence wherein the optimum benefits could reach out to the migrant families through existing schemes of women and child welfare department. She further stated that the mini anganwadi centres can be explored for the migrant families at their working localities.

Dr V Rukmini Rao, social and rural development activist working with women at many levels of Indian society spoke about the challenging issues of adolescent girls in worksite environments and protective measures. She also said that Telangana is the only State that offers coupon system to migrants to get access to rations, Public Development Schemes (PDS) offering a relief to migrants.