Unesco bats for rights of internal migrants

The Unesco would press for a change in the government policy that provides internal migrants the same services and entitlements which they availed before they move from their original place.

The UN body will help plan and devise government programs in a manner that internal migrants especially migrant children could get their entitlements even they move. 

“Internal migrants, estimated at nearly 30 per cent (326 millions), are a critically vulnerable population, deprived of social protection entitlements, excluded from government policies, and schemes, and prey to ruthless exploitation,” says Unesco background note on the issue.

“Poor people are excluded from accessing various services, entitlements, schemes, privileges and participation in governance process in native as well as at the destination. The policy for portability of basic entitlements, services are crucial to enhance citizenship rights of internal migrants,” said the note.

The Unesco has identified areas which would require government attention. The areas are- tracking and mapping of migrant children at source and destination, access to child care, health, nutrition, creche and Anganwadi at work sites, inclusive access and right to education of migrant children, decent housing and healthy environment at worksites for migrant families, migrant child labour and safety and security of adolescent girls living in worksites and portability of government entitlements and service, migration is multidimensional and multilocation.

The assessment indicates 90 per cent seasonal migrant children are excluded from accessing the ICDS services whereas 80 per cent school going children do not access education near worksites.

While 65 per cent of the children suffer from ill health, 40 per cent work as child labour and experience various kinds of abuse and exploitation.