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Description
After turning its back for long on the plight of labourers from the north and north-eastern States toiling in Kerala, the authorities appear to be taking belated steps to improve their living and working conditions. Migrant labourers have filled a huge vacancy in the unskilled labour market of Kerala. However, unlike during the migration of Tamil labourers to the plantation sector in the colonial period, the State was totally unprepared to receive the new migrants who find themselves without the welfare net which local labourers enjoyed. Soon, labour camps, a new phenomenon in Kerala, sprang up and the sight of labourers being taken out to their work place in open trucks became common. In spite of their pervasiveness the migrant labour community lives as islands, totally cut off from the mainstream society. The labour camps remain almost out of bounds for the outside world with both the labourers and their mentors resisting entry into the camps. Camps In most cases, the camps are just tin-roofed and tin-walled structures put up on raw floor without plastering. Labourers themselves make the flooring, with old newspapers, plastic and gunny bags spread all over. In some, up to 20 people are crammed into a 250 sq ft ‘hall’. No cooking space; no bathrooms. There will be one or two toilets for the entire camp. In many cases, the water for drinking, bathing and washing comes from an open well, mostly without any protective cover. Authorities say nearly 30,000 migrants are staying in the district, spread over the 563 camps. Out of these, 7,000 stay in Paippad grama panchayat which alone accounts for 51 camps. A preliminary inspection, jointly by Labour and Health departments and the local body concerned, found the situation in 42 camps so dismal that they were closed down. Says District Collector U.V. Jose, “The situation is dismal but we have to make a beginning.” He says the second phase of the clean-up will be launched by September 10. The authorities will visit the camps to check whether basic amenities, as directed, have been provided. “If not, such camps would be closed down,” says Mr. Jose. He says registration of all employees and their membership in the welfare fund would be ensured during the third phase of the campaign which will begin in February 2016. Directive issued to those who operate migrant labour camps Identity cards for labourers Maintaining camp register One toilet for every 10 members Daily cleaning of the toilets using antiseptic lotion Facility for waste management including bio gas or gobar gas plants Separate kitchen facilities Health check-ups ever six months Tiled and plastered walls, tiled or concrete roof, and plastered floor for camp building
Keywords
Migrant workers, Kerala, facilities, labour camps, working conditions, hygiene, living conditions, migrant labourers, unskilled labour, India, Asia
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