Workshop on “Capacity Building”

Date: From 26^th July to 28^th July 2023

Venue: Dr. Ambedkar Hall

Total Number of Participants: 42

Inaugural Session: We began the workshop on “Capacity Building” for those working among the labour Migrants at 9.15 a.m on 26^th July 2023. Fr. Anthony Dass SJ (Superior – ISI B) welcomed the participants, Fr. Dr. Selvaraj Arulnathan SJ (Director) gave the key note address reiterating the Popes’ message of welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating the migrants in our land focusing our attention on the distressed labour migrants. Fr. Dr. Selvin Raj SJ (Head- LM Unit) explained to the participants the dynamics of the entire workshop on Capacity Building.  Fr. Shiju Mathew SJ (Administrator) briefed them about the logistic. Ms. Lakshmi our supporting staff sang the Prayer Song. All the above dignitaries together lit the lamp with Mr. Vishwas Chakaranarayan one of the participants of this workshop from Pune. Sr. Lilly read out the Preamble of the Indian Constitution at the end of the inaugural session.

Resource Persons:

The following resource persons dealt with various topics related to labour migration. The objectives of the workshop was spelt very clearly by Fr. Dr. Selvin Raj in his dynamics, namely 1. Understanding the context of labour migration form the point of source and destination states, 2. Understanding the Context of our specific involvement with Labour Migrants. Because we are already working in different areas and desire to work for migrants. 3. We need to understand our strength and inadequacies working with the labour migrants, 4. How to accompany the Migrants in their distressed condition, 5. How to promote safe and dignified migration of the labour migrants.

 Mr. Sarat Babu MA, LLB works as the District Probation Officer Gr-I, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh State. He holds primary responsibility in the Government of Andhra Pradesh in the Department of Juvenile Welfare, Correctional Services and Welfare of Street Children under the Department for Women, Children, Differently Abled and Senior Citizens. He dealt with the following topics: Child labour & Adolescent Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act 2016, Consequences of Child Labour, Elimination of Child labour and practical problems faced, Juvenile Justice, care and protection of Children Act 2015 and offences against children.

Mr. Lenin Babu, Psychologist, a family counselor in Women Police Station from Kurnool took sessions on Gender violence and sexual exploitation of the migrant women. He explained about the communication style one has to develop while dealing with the victims of sexual violence. He emphasized the need to understand the Mental state of the labour migrants (Alienation, Loneliness, Emotional deprivation, Anxiety, stress and depression). His sessions were very interesting and participatory.

Ms. Prameela CEO of SAMPARK, Bangalore is working among the Migrants who are labourers in construction sites in Bangalore. She spoke about the vision, mission and activities of SAMPARK. She has reached out women migrants in construction sector through various programmes such as initiating Self Help Groups, providing social securities, connecting them with construction welfare Board, strengthening the relationship between the employer and employee, care of the children of the labour migrants at the construction sites ect,. SAMPARK also has introduced Help-line services to the migrants. The organization provides legal Aid to the construction labourers where they conflict with law.

Ms. Rajani, Trainer in CITRA, Secunderabad shared about how she rescued 167 bonded labourers from a Brick Kline area near Pochmpally in Andhra Pradesh with the help of CID, Labour officials and Police officers. This rescue operation also includes the compensation amount Rs. 85 lakh recovered from the brick Kline owner. Her sharing was charged with lots of emotions as we encountered the police, lawyers, politicians and brick Kline owners.

Fr. John Felix SJ Dirctor of JOHAR, Dumka spoke about how the returned migrants from the destination states were accompanied by JOHAR. He also explained to them the necessary documents the migrants should have when they migrate to other states He explained the following activities initiated in JOHAR

• Empowerment with coaching for drop out youth.
• Personality development and leadership training and social analysis for youth.
• Human Rights & P.U.C.L Activities
• Networking with social organizations & Social media
• Ensuring Social Protection and Building Climate-Resilient Communities in India (ESP)
• Migrant Assistance and Information Network (MAIN)

His sharing of information made the participants to understand the condition in which migration is taking place at the source states and the process they go through as they travel to their destination states. He briefed us the problems they face during their travel such as… Journey Problems, Language Problems, No Accommodation Facility, no fixed working time, Minimum Wages & Unpaid wages, Sexual Harassments, Human Violation, Too much Exploitation, No Job Security and are mentally Disturbed. Finally, he expressed his gratitude to all those working in the destination states for the migrants, whenever he approached the people from south for any help to the distress migrants, he got help generously. All this is possible because of the network we very much rely on.

Fr. Francis Balaraj SJ created the context of the labour migrants in the destination states. He dealt with the topic ‘INCLUSION’ OF THE ‘EXCLUDED’: ‘ACCOMPANYING MIGRANTS’. He reemphasized the statement made by Pope Francis on WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, 27^TH SEPTEMBER, 2020. POPE FRANCIS says we need to WELCOME, PROTECT, PROMOTE, INTEGRATE the migrants coming from North India to south India. He gave a panoramic view of unorganised labourers in India I various sectors. Speaking about the social inclusion of the labour migrants he asserted the followings. Registration and Identity, Political and Civic Inclusion, Labour Market Inclusion, Inclusion of Women Internal Migrants, Educational Inclusion, Inclusion through access to Food, Inclusion through Housing, Public Health Inclusion, Financial Inclusion etc,

Mr. Lokesh Promotional Manager of WOW, Visakhapatnam volunteered to come here to address the participants on the online APP meant for the Migrant women. This App is specially designed for the use of uneducated and unlettered persons to get information on any health and hygiene issue. 

The participants of the workshop raised so many questions of clarification in these following areas.

1. Understanding the Migrants context from both Origin and Destination states.
2. Conceptual clarity on Distress migration.
3. Our strengths and inadequacies in the context of our involvement with migrants.
4. Constitutional enactments related to Migrants, Children and bonded labourers.
5. Stress management
6. Experiential sharing of distress migrants condition
7. Digital platform: Online APP concerning Health issues of migrant and illiterate women.
8. Rescue – Relief – Rehabilitation process
9. Migrant identity formation and asserting safe and dignified migration
10. Advocacy and policy change concerning migrant issues

 

Fr. Selva and Fr. Selvin moderated the last session on synergizing our work energy. This lead to creating a strong network among ourselves eventually the days to come. Based on the questionnaire given by Fr. Selvin the participants divided into five groups for group discussion. The presentation of the group after discussion was collated by Ms. Vandana. The report is attached in this file.

Conclusion: The entire workshop on “Capacity building” came to an end with a short evaluation in which everyone spoke. Everyone said that it was very enriching experience being together and learning more about the distress conditions of the labour migrants in India. All were determined to plunge into serious works in accompanying the migrants in India. Thanking one another with grateful heart all departed.

In solidarity

Fr. Dr. M.G. Selvin Raj SJ