Jharkhand, a state in India, is facing a major challenge in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic: the return journey of approximately 8.5 lakh migrant workers. The state government has responded by launching a crucial exercise to survey its migrant population, the Jharkhand Migrant Survey (JMS). Over 60 enumerators have spread out across 24 districts of the state, visiting 11,000 households, with the aim of mapping the major sectors of engagement for migrant workers, identifying the social security benefits available to their families, and assessing the health hazards they face.
The Jharkhand Migrant Survey as Part of the Safe and Responsible Migration Initiative
- The Jharkhand Migrant Survey is part of the state’s Safe and Responsible Migration Initiative (SRMI), which was launched in 2021. The SRMI aims to create a database of migrant workers and develop a state-level policy framework on migration and the welfare of migrant workers in Jharkhand.
- The Policy and Development Advisory Group (PDAG), a part of the consortium that signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government in 2021, is tasked with designing, building, and implementing the SRMI. The MoU outlines the key aim of integrating the findings of the field survey into the design of state policies to address the welfare issues of migrant workers in the state.
Assessing the State of Migration and its Impact
- The enumerators conducting the Jharkhand Migrant Survey will also perform a qualitative assessment, speaking to community leaders and government representatives, to determine the extent of safe migration and the delivery of last-mile services. The questions posed to the households will cover various aspects of migration, including household characteristics, outgoing and incoming migration, push and pull factors, quality of life, remittance savings and utilization, and women’s engagement in the household and their views on the nature of work sought.
- The state of Jharkhand has a significant tribal population, accounting for nearly 27% of the state’s population. These communities are characterized by low human development indicators and form a large portion of the working-age population that migrates. The return of migrant workers to Jharkhand during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic revealed deeper policy challenges related to social welfare, food security, livelihood, and health management. Jharkhand also serves as a major source state for migration to remote regions such as Ladakh, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Importance of Migrant Labour Surveys
- Jharkhand is not the only state in India to conduct migrant labour surveys. Kerala has been a pioneer in this field, followed by states like Tamil Nadu and Punjab. However, the nature of labour migration differs between Kerala and Jharkhand, with workers in Kerala primarily migrating abroad, mainly to Gulf countries, while in Jharkhand, the issue is internal migration.
- The ongoing stand-off with the Border Roads Organization, regarding the welfare and safety of migrant workers from the state employed in BRO projects, has also contributed to the government’s decision to frame a policy on migration. The Jharkhand Migrant Survey marks a crucial step in that direction.
Synopsis
The journey back home for Jharkhand’s migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic has been a major challenge for the state. The Jharkhand Migrant Survey is a crucial exercise aimed at mapping the major sectors of engagement for migrant workers, identifying the social security benefits available to their families, and assessing the of the migrant workers, including push and pull factors, quality of life, remittances, and the role of women in migration. The findings from the survey will be used to design state policies that address the challenges faced by migrant workers, including those from tribal communities who form a significant portion of the state’s population and face low human development indicators. The survey is different from other labour surveys in other states as it focuses on internal migration, making it a unique initiative aimed at addressing the welfare issues of Jharkhand’s migrant workers.