Encourage MSMEs to contain migration: Expert

Prof V Krishna Mohan felt that migration was the result of poverty and unemployment in rural areas and people belonging to the marginalised sections of the society sought their livelihood in urban areas for a steady income

Visakhapatnam: Migration of workers to urban centres can be contained by encouraging village and cottage industries, small, micro and medium enterprises in villages, according to Registrar of Andhra University Prof. V Krishna Mohan.

Delivering the inaugural address at a National Webinar on “Seasonal Migrants in India: Issues and Challenges” organised by the Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) in Andhra University on Tuesday, he noted that migration of workers seasonally to urban centres for work in industries, hotels was an old phenomenon and it was happening since independence.

Some of the best examples were to encourage animal husbandry, seasonal and food processing industries. Referring to the quote of the Former President, Late Abdul Kalam, he stated that urban amenities are to be provided in rural areas also. Recalling the plight of migrant workers who walked on foot for thousands of kilometers from their places of work to their home places during the lockdown imposed due to Covid-19 pandemic, he felt that migration was the result of poverty and unemployment in rural areas and people belonging to the marginalised sections of the society sought their livelihood in urban areas for a steady income.

Dr.P. Subba Rao, Director, CSSEIP, outlined the aims and objectives of the webinar. He stated that seasonal or circular migration had raised a number of concerns such as economic, social and political marginalisation. He stated that the migrant workers have low negotiation skills in demanding wages and live in subhuman conditions without proper health facilities.

Prof. D V R Murthy, Head, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and Dean, U.G.Examinations, Andhra University, in his address stated that migration is caused by poverty and availability of surplus labour in villages. He noted that in addition to surplus labour, lack of income in villages, expansion of labour demand in cities and to clear their debts in villages, and to make some remittances to their family at home, people migrate from villages. These migrants worked in most hazardous conditions in factories.

The rise in migration of people could be correlated to industrialisation, he opined. Prof.V.Vijay Lakshmi, Nodal Officer (Legal Cell) and Chairperson, Board of Studies in Law, Dr. BR Ambedkar College of Law, Andhra University in her address stated that as agricultural is seasonal and most of the people in the villages dependent on it seek employment in urban industrial areas during lean season to sustain families. She expressed her concern over the horrid plight of the migrant workers in industries and their families’ health situation and lamented that the workers neglected their personal and family health.

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