Migration Commission

The Prime Minister announced in a Mann ki Baat broadcast recently that he was considering setting up a Migration Commission for the employment of migrant labourers. It would work towards mapping the skills of these labourers. He also spoke of providing self-employment and setting up small-scale industries in villages. The Uttar Pradesh government too had announced a migration commission to provide jobs and social security to the workers returning to that state.

These are laudable aims and would help in reducing distress migration to a great extent since opportunities would open up at the local level. What is imperative, however, is that the authorities must listen to their voices in framing guidelines meant to protect them from exploitation. The concept of the Migration Commission must be debated, discussed and nuanced widely to ensure that the migrant workers’ concerns, issues and experiences are reflected predominantly. This would mean that their voices are institutionalised and the government is, thus, held accountable in fulfilment of the aims and objectives of the commission.