Let’s take a philosophical output – why do humans do something they know will disrupt their everyday “normal”? Various studies in Sociology and psychology say that a human is forced to take certain steps in their life when there is a requirement for change, where there is a requirement for something more than what they have, or when a third party like environmental and social conflicts play a leading hand in controlling the situation.
This brings us to the basics of migration. Migration is defined as the movement of a person from their place of origin, i.e., their place of birth, to a different location for X reason. In this blog, though, we will focus on the migration of the working class, primarily from rural to urban India. The reason for this migration is a requirement for better opportunities and living conditions, followed by the “Indian Dream.”
The Exodus Of Migrants Credited To Social Media
Migration has led to increased opportunities for mostly all. From a better location to better living standards, and provisions to feed and take care of oneself and one’s family. It is a staple in Indian culture where there are no such hard and fast rules dictated by the Government against migration and seeking better opportunities for oneself. However, deep-rooted diversity, biases and pre-judgements towards one community, and stereotypes have been the shadow lurking behind bringing us as a society towards equal treatment.
Social media, for one, especially, has played a key role. The “viral” culture where inappropriate (Read as “A bit abnormal”) behavior of one person can start a frenzy and debate. In short, it kick-starts mob cultures amongst netizens who reside behind their screens, absorbing fake information on the go.
Take for example, the majority of the nation and their stereotype of the East (mainly due to geographical reasons). Thousands, nay millions of individuals who may otherwise be innocent, are subject to racial bias due to their appearance or even speech pattern.
Needless to say, climate change has caused mass migration in recent years.
Climate Change & It’s Correlation To Migration
A leading cause behind the change of location, apart from the opportunities that present itself, is a sheer carnal desire to reside in a better climate. An accepting environment where there is abundance is what draws people, while arid regions draw away people. Climate change in India in recent years has seen drastic changes. Seasons, as we knew it once, simply do not exist anymore. In India, as of 2023, approximately 2.5 million people were internally displaced due to natural disasters like floods and cyclones, based on data from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Climate change is so real that more migration towards the north or the cooler regions of the subcontinent is imperative.
The Millions of Migrants
In a pre-COVID and post-COVID world, we’ve seen change. The news filling up with migrant workers from urban areas walking and making their way back home in 2020 due to the seizure of transport altogether touched the hearts of millions. These workers, with no sustainability and no means to provide for themselves or their families, chose the difficult but more economical route to return to their land of origin. With so many Government schemes and laws in place to protect the safety and the respect that migrants have across levels of work types, the irony was that during COVID-19, as India stood at a standstill – there was nothing to protect the rights and no one to help these migrant workers.
Compared to during COVID-19, the aftermath saw immense growth. The shifts of people from one region to the next with full commitment were something else. Migrant workers returned to urban areas to explore what the new wave of job opportunities had in store for us.
But we as a nation altogether, laws and welfare schemes set for migrant workers are still not in affect, and there is seldom any help for those who truly need it.
Government Schemes: In Action Or Just For Name-Sake?
Migrant workers, like all other Indians living in this subcontinent, are protected through certain Government schemes. Taking into account the type of work that is being done by these workers, their living conditions, and their backgrounds – the laws are meant to protect the basic rights of migrant workers.
● Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (GKRA): A scheme to employ migrants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. With an initial investment of ₹50,000 crore, GKRA was implemented across 116 districts to support around 670,000 workers. However , the coverage was limited to certain districts and might not have reached all affected workers.
● Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): To provide sustainable livelihoods to unskilled and migrant workers. However, while effective in offering short-term employment, MGNREGA’s reach is constrained by budgetary limitations and delayed wage payments, which can hinder long-term stability for migrants.
● Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): Provides risk coverage of Rs. 2 lakh for accidental death and full disability for migrant workers. Despite its wide coverage, awareness and enrollment rates among migrant populations could improve to maximize impact
● Atal Pension Yojana: Provides a pension of 1000-5000 rupees, or accumulated sum of the pension after death. To date, it has seen approximately 50 million enrollments. Still the scheme’s reach remains limited by eligibility and contribution levels that some low-income migrants find challenging to sustain over time
● Pradhan Mantri Kisan Mandhan Yojana: Provides an assured pension of Rs. 3000/- month for small and marginal farmers. Enrollments have been growing, but participation is affected by barriers such as registration challenges and awareness gaps among intended beneficiaries, limiting its effectiveness for migrant-specific support.
The fun fact to notice from all these Government schemes is that they are all aimed at the worst-case scenario for migrant workers. To accommodate the so-called “after-match” for the family of the migrant worker. The schemes, though great by being in place – can hardly sustain the living costs of one person for a month, let alone try to cover the expenses of the entire family of the migrant worker for a month.
CSR Funding For Migration: What Are The Odds?
Remember the scenario from 2020 to 2021. The news was broadcasting repeated footage of migrant workers walking their way back to their hometowns. There was no one then to save them or even help them during their long journey – the Government was also silent then. Since that horrific incident, NGOs and schemes have been set up actively to prevent such scenarios.
CSR in India often focuses on areas where companies operate to fulfill local community engagement. However, migration issues, particularly those affecting less visible migrant populations in urban and rural transition zones, have not traditionally been prioritized.
In recent years, however, some corporate partnerships have begun targeting issues indirectly affecting migrants, like livelihood development and skill-building, though these are generally not categorized specifically as “migration-related” initiatives. For precise figures specific to migration-focused funding, data remains sparse due to a lack of categorized tracking in CSR reporting frameworks. However, as CSR evolves, there is growing potential for collaborations, such as blended finance, to address high-need issues like migration in ways that align with corporate social responsibility goals.
It took one calamity in the world to bring out the horror and adversaries hidden underneath the layer of an “idyllic society.”
One case that baffles the country and is worth studying the most when it comes to migration and the amount of support that can be given by an employer to a migrant worker would be Tatanagar.
Jamshedpur, founded in 1908 as India’s Steel City by the Tata Group, developed into a thriving industrial hub focused on steel production. Tata’s strategic plan included relocating workers, upskilling them, inviting their families, and establishing essential amenities like schools and housing, creating a sustainable, well-planned city that uplifted thousands of migrant workers.
In Conclusion
Migration is a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual phenomenon. Those who are above the poverty line are given privileges and accommodation fees while those who are migrating out of desperation for better opportunities get the short end of the stick. Of course, there is a level of unfairness that is more than evident to the naked eye.
While we cover the truth and genuinely try to ignore it, some people and organizations are working day in and day out to ensure that there are fundamental rights given to migrant workers and their families. Driven by the cause that everyone is a human being and deserves to be treated that way – these organizations have come about to ensure justice.
At Let It Count, we support causes that aim to bring balance to the otherwise unjust society that we live in. We support the cause for migration and providing them with basic rights. Check out the other causes that we are supporting on our website. Visit www.letitcount.com for more information.