“When we ask for land to construct a house, we are told to produce proof of identity. When we ask for proof of identity, we are told we do not have land in possession. To vote in the election we are asked to present the ration card.

When we demand for a ration card we are told to go to our village and get one. When we go to our village we are told that we do not belong there. So where actually do we belong?" asks Basavaraj Hangaragi, a migrant worker from Bijapur and the district president of the Karnataka Migrant Labourers’ Association.

This is just one voice out of countless other migrants who drift out of their home towns in search of two square meals a day. Many are small-time-farmers-turned-labourers from the drought-stricken districts of North Karnataka.

“We are neglected by both our employers and the government. No one hears our pleas for basic facilities like clean drinking water, a house to stay, school and health services for our children. Are we not counted as the citizens of this nation?" he asks.

"The references made to us in different laws do not come to our aid in any way. We have no job security. If we get injured in the course of our work, the responsibility of the employer is just to take us to a hospital. We get no compensation or money for treatment," he said.

A survey of migrant families in Udupi district was carried out during June-October 2006 by the NGO 'The Concerned for Working Children' (CWC). The findings indicated that there are totally 916 migrant families in the district with a total population of 4,367. Among them, 837 families are permanent migrants, 53 families are seasonal migrants and 26 families are nomadic.

Employment

Among 1,316 children of migrant workers residing in the district, only 454 children go to school. In most of the cases, financial difficulties at home or migration are the reasons for children to quit school. These children are employed as coolies, construction labourers, domestic workers and hotel helpers around the district.

These families lack access even to clean drinking water, toilets and health facilities. Though the municipality has to take care of cleanliness in the areas these migrant workers live in, it does not do so. Most migrant settlements can be seen near dump yards and other wastelands. While 15 families live on streets, 50 of them have resorted to beggary.

But now, the 4,000-plus migrants living in the district have come together to form a union to draw government's attention to their plight and their demands. The union formally announced its birth in a conference held in Udupi on May 20. Pressure has been brought on the government officials who attended the conference to legalise the Union.

The Labour Union does not recognise migrants as a registered group as one of the conditions for the formation of a union is that the name of the employer should be registered. This is a major hurdle for migrants who work under various employers for different lengths of time.

Convention

Around 2,000 migrant workers marched to demand their rights as citizens of this district to the first ever convention of migrant workers in this State. Declaring a peaceful struggle to realise their rights, they announced the formation of the Karnataka Migrant Workers’ Union and unfurled their flag to display their symbol - footprints - that depicts their long journey and their aspiration for a new world.

It was a dream come true for members of the Union after the long and hard path taken by the movement since its inception two years ago. “We demand to be recognised as citizens of this district and to be taken note of," said members of the Union.

“To this day, members of migrant communities are ignored as they are not voters. This movement is to make sure that their voices are heard and their demands are met. One of the main demands of this movement is for the Government to implement 'Income Guarantee Schemes' in the districts these communities come from. If that is effectively done, they would not migrate from their home towns,” said  Damodar Acharya, executive director, CWC.

“A new chapter in the struggle of migrant families in Karnataka is opened today. The issues raised here are relevant, not just for Udupi, but for the entire State. The Government has a responsibility towards members of migrant communities. In fact, providing services to the workers should become a part of the labour contracts. I will totally support your cause," said Karnataka Third Finance Commission Chairperson A G Kodgi.

The conference included medical check-ups for the participants and concluded with cultural programmes, during which members of migrant communities shared their talents among themselves.