Hyderabad: Immediately, Telangana may emerge as one of the first states in India to launch a migrant worker policy, allowing them to participate in the country’s economic activities.
Draft policies – copies available with TOI – convinced many benefits for migrant workers and their families, including accident insurance, ration cards, affordable rental housing, school receipts, among others.
It also sets to offer health benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and travel trips – “to and from the place of origin of workers” – for emergency cases.
At present, the government is in the process of compiling data at a matter of migrant workers in Telangana.
The survey deadline is July 15.
“Different departments have been assigned different sectors where these workers are employed – industry, brick kilns, construction, street vendors etc.
After we have numbers, the draft will be taken to the cabinet,” said Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary of Industry and Trade Principles , He added: “Insurance and travel grants are one of our unique features that are not considered by other countries.” While the official count is still awaited, the rough estimate of civil society groups shows that Telangana is home to around 15 lakh migrant workers – a large enough population works in brick burning, construction sites and food businesses.
Logistics and security are other segments that employ a large group of migrants.
“Last year’s migrant crisis was brought forward two things – living conditions of migrant workers and the important role they played in the country’s economy,” said Kiran Kumar Visa from Rythu Swarajya Vedika who worked closely with the government on this draft.
“This policy is related to establishing identities for parts of workers in Telangana and thus allow them access to basic facilities – food security, shelter, health etc.” In the midst of the first wave of Covid-19, about two to three lakh migrant workers from Telangana returned to their home countries due to lack of food, residence and work here.
“Worker registration will be a dynamic process to ensure that all migrants travel to work to Telangana are included in the policy,” added Ranjan.