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Society
'Food Passport' for Migrants
by Aparna Pallavi
November 6, 2005
Suman Bai,
Vimal Bai Pagar and Janaka Bhoye live on the streets and have recently
won a major victory - a temporary ration card. For them this is a huge
win, as they are all migrants and it is impossible for this group to get
a ration card.
The three belong to a group of about 50 migrants in Nashik who started
their struggle in 2001. The workers were supported by Anjali Borhade and
her organization, Disha Foundation, an NGO. This is the first
time that ration cards have been issued to migrants anywhere in the
country.
"One category of people who inevitably get left out by the Public
Distribution System (PDS) are migrant workers. As they do not live in
their native place, they are not able to access facilities specially
meant for the poor. It was this thought, and also the realization that
these people aid the development of the city by providing cheap labor,
and hence deserve a better life, that we started working for ration
cards for migrant workers."
Nashik city is witnessing a boom in construction work, which makes it an
obvious destination for migrant workers from Maharahstra, Gujarat and
Andhra Pradesh. There are some 8,000 poor families who come to work for
10 months every year to Nashik. They camp in the open, in 'nakas' or
camps, without any amenities. Food insecurity is high among this
population as employment - construction work or agricultural labor, is
highly irregular.
The migrant labor system in Nashik is very different to the kind
prevalent in other cities. Here, no labor contractors go to villages and
fetch workers. The workers come on their own, usually with their entire
families, and stay in the nakas. They cannot even put up tents for fear
of police harassment.
"Initially, when we took up the issue with the PDS officials in 2001,"
says Borhade, "The department did not respond despite repeated
follow-ups. We took out demonstrations and ran campaigns (some jointly
with the Rationing Kruti Samiti - a pressure group working in
Maharashtra) for the effective implementation of PDS. More than a 100
migrant workers sacrificed their daily wages for days together to join
the struggle."
Fortunately, the Additional Collector Shekhar Meshram Gaikwad proved to
be sensitive, and agreed to talk with the migrants. The migrant workers
participated in the discussions enthusiastically. Vimalbai Pagar, Janka
Bhoye, Baba Tathe, Maruti Labde and others presented their side of the
story very lucidly.
Their efforts bore fruit and application forms were issued. But the
migrants were unable to furnish income proof or submit the employers'
recommendation. Again, the group held discussions with the PDS officials
on it and the rules were relaxed.
There were other problems too - after intense lobbying, the group fought
for and got permanent ration cards for 185 migrant workers in Nashik.
But each time they had to buy food, they were expected to return back to
their native place. This did not suit the migrants who had to stay most
of the year in Nashik.
So Borhade and her organisation decided to work for temporary ration
cards.
In September 2005, 50 migrant workers from different parts of
Maharashtra were issued temporary ration cards for four months. The
duration of these cards can be extended on demand. "It is only later
that we found that this was the first time that migrants anywhere had
been issued cards," says a proud Borhade.
To avoid duplication, Disha Foundation deviced a simple mechanism. "When
the temporary ration card is issued, the worker is required to deposit
his or her original ration card from his native place with us. When they
return to their state, they return the migrant card."
The Foundation also wanted to ensure that the workers did get rations on
their cards. For this, a tripartite documentation system involving the
shopkeeper, the card-holder and Disha Foundation was worked out. "Now
the ration shopowner cannot make excuses and deny us rations," says a
triumphant Pagar.
The Foundation is now also working on a food passport. "Since migrant
workers travel to many towns, besides Nashik, getting a temporary ration
card for every place is a difficult prospect. We are working with
Gaikwad on a 'food passport' for migrant workers. This passport will
enable them to get Below the Poverty Level (BPL) rations in any part of
the state they work."
The other area is that of inter-state migrants. "The temporary ration
cards have been issued only to migrants from Maharashtra," says Borhade.
"But migrants from other states deserve the same facilities. Hence, we
are trying to evolve an inter-state coordination system through with
workers from one state can get temporary ration cards in any other state
where they are working."
Of course, getting ration cards is just one small step in overhauling
the PDS in the country. "In Nashik, as elsewhere, there are many
problems with PDS. There is large-scale corruption in the distribution
of rations, especially BPL rations. The fight for ration cards will
eventually grow into a fight for rations. We are preparing for that,"
she says with a faraway look in her eyes.
By arrangement with
Women's Feature Service
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| Society
The Week of November 6, 2005
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Indian Governments Soft-Kneed Counter-Terrorism Approaches by Dr. Subhash
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Chanchala Lakshmi: The Restless One! by Aparna
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The Map is NOT the Territory by Vikram
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Africa: Buy a Girl for 3 Cows by Caroline
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Canada: Leaving Out the Shariah by Naunidhi
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Living in the Shadow of Violence by Linda
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'Food Passports" for Migrants by Aparna Pallavi
The Seeds of Change by Ruchika Negi
Master Mahashai by Kumud Biswas
Vande Mataram! by Anamika Banerjee
Oriya Press: Then and Now by Alipta Jena
Universal Phonetic Roman Script by Swachid
K. Rangan
Therapeutic uses of Honey in Ayurveda by Dr.
Krishna R.S.
In Our Own Hands
by Stephanie Hiller
Trouble with Purity Pill by Aparna Pallavi
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