The 73rd CAA and other Acts to promote and protect interests of rural migrants at source

1. The 73rd CAA and other Acts to promote and protect interests of rural migrants at source Provisions and Practices

2. Political perspective on PRIs Rajiv Gandhi as PM said: “Our challenge is to institutionalise this system” He also said: “Panchayati Raj is the medium to transform rural India into 700 million opportunities. The key instrument in integrating economic reforms with institutional reforms in the countryside is Gandhiji’s farsighted goal of PurnaSwaraj through Gram Swaraj.”

3. 243G.   Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats • Powers  and  responsibilities   withrespect to- (a)  the  preparation  of plans for economic  development  and  socialjustice; (b)  the implementation of schemes for economic development and socialjustice as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to thematters listed in the Eleventh Schedule.

4. Relevant Functions for migrants in 11th Schedule Health and sanitation • Rural housing • Poverty alleviation • Education- Primary, Secondary, Vocational, Technical training, Adult education, Libraries • Family welfare • Woman and child development • Social welfare • Welfare of the weaker sections like SC and ST • Public distribution system

5. Practical Areas for Migrant Support • Linkages to PDS even while ‘on the move’ • Linkages to agricultural and livelihood support to families of migrant workers at source and returnee migrants • Improved access to information • Skills enhancement • Certification of identity • Remittances • Housing • Access to health and education, • Legal protection • Social protection

6. Registration and Identity • A migrant worker is required to prove his identity as a potential claimant for entitlements. • identity of seasonal migrants can be validated only by the Panchayats they belong to • A proactive role should be played by PRIs in maintaining a database of its citizens, its out-migrants and non-migrants

7. Strengthening Migrant Voices through Gram Sabhas • 73rd CAA provides for a platform for citizen participation in planning and governance at the local level through Gram Sabhas • Comprehensive planning should include voices from the families of migrants, • Gram Sabhas for migrants should be held during seasons when return of seasonal migrants is highest

8. PRIs and Social Protection to Migrant workers • PRIs act as nodal agencies in delivering basic social protection schemes of the central and state governments. • Seasonal migrants and their families are often unable to access these benefits in their absence in the village • PRIs could play a role in making PDS and other social entitlements portable so that seasonal migrants can access them on a temporary basis. • Official IDs from the PRIs could be used to enroll the migrant workers temporarily in the PDS while they are at destination. • Transfer certificates for children to continue their primary education at destination

9. Reducing Distress Migration • Major function of PRIs is poverty alleviation • Agrarian crisis and chronic poverty continue to be major reasons from out-migration • PRIs act as the contact point and the nodal agency in delivering the entitlements guaranteed under schemes like MGNREGs and NRLM • Inclusion of families of migrant workers in labourbudgeting

10. Challenges • MGNREGS and migrant register is perceived contradictory in nature • Schools do not wish to issue migration card to the students • Decentralisedplanning at all tiers of PRIs is insensitive or ignorant to consider migrants as a constituency • Registration in B and OC Workers Board is not perceived as primary function