A story we often hear (NGO UDAYAMA)

Aritra Chakrabarty on January 29th, 2014

A certain Brushpati Putel from a remote village in Bolangir district has been undertaking his journey as a migrant, pushed and compelled by the distressed economic situation at his district. As a construction worker, he along with his family migrates to various destinations, wherever a suitable employment can be located. Temporary employment is the only source of sustenance for his family of five.

His story is no different from that of numerous other migrants, travelling in search of eking out a livelihood, most often under harsh circumstances. Termed as the ‘invisible’ population, they remain undocumented and without enumeration in any official records. As a result, they pose no proof of their identity, neither of their dignity.

Western Orissa is the main origin place of distress migration. Most of the farming communities from this region migrate to the other states; mainly to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhatishgarh, Maharastra, Punjab and Gujarat for earning their livelihood during lean season; post monsoon period when avenues for income is less and only agriculture specific.

In his case, while working as construction worker in a construction company in Punjab, earning 160 Rs per day along with his wife was detained by police during one of their return journeys. While returning to his village, Brushapati Patel was held up by the Delhi police when he was unable to produce any document of his identity or his proof of work in Punjab. Migrants face persecution from all quarters because they form the easy targets of law and order. Their lack of knowledge on their entitled rights leaves them with no bargaining power.

UDAYAMA ensured that further incidents do not occur by making him undergo through the registration process and making him avail the migrant Identity Card. UDAYAMA has been successful in provision of Identity cards to the migrants from the Bolangir district with the help from PRI members and village Sarpanchs. The NGO along with SDTT has been successfully implementing the migration support program in the Bolangir district of western Odisha. UDAYAMA recognizes that the involvement of local people is essential in the successful implementation of any development program.

The initial process of identification of migrant families and successive registration of theirs ensures that further processes relating to risk reduction and mitigation at destination sites can be carried out. Today, Brushapati can continue his search of livelihood in a dignified manner and be ‘visible’ to the judicial system.

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Aritra Chakrabarty

Anchor, SHRAM (Till Dec 31st, 2014)

As a social researcher, I believe in knowledge-based policy action. With a postgraduate degree in Development Studies, I've been associated with social issues in my professional space. As a part of SHRAMIC initiative, was involved with data creation, sourcing of resources that will become the knowledge bank of this project.