Children from migrant communities in Kerala face many risks

Women bear the burden

“Women are often the ones who suffer,” said George Mathew, president of the Progressive Workers’ Organisation. The responsibility to ensure the safety of their children falls on the shoulders of women, but at the same time many factories are no longer allowing children because of the increase in workplace accidents. “This means that women are now being denied jobs if they bring their children. Either way, they are being hit hard,” he added.

Shihab told TNM that since Asmina’s accident, he has not allowed female workers to bring their children to the factory. Many other plywood factory owners admitted to having given the same ultimatum.

There are factories that have a room reserved for children to stay in. But these children are left unattended while their parents are at work, and accidents continue to happen.

Irfan, a labourer from Assam who has been working in Kerala for years, pointed out that children tend to wander around even when asked to stay in a room. “Most factory buildings are dangerous and in poor condition, with pieces of wood, waste pits and tools lying around. But it is not as if mothers have any other option,” he said.

A factory owner asked, “What shall we do when they come and beg us for work? Finally we give in and let them take children. How can those little children be locked up at home?”

Safer alternatives and practical matters

Anganwadis are the best intervention available in India for the “integral development of children,” said Benoy Peter, executive director of the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development, an Ernakulam-based NGO that works among migrant communities. But it is inaccessible to migrant children, he told TNM.

“Anganwadis generally function from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. Most migrant women have to leave for work at least by 7.30 am and return only by 6 pm,” said Benoy Peter, executive director of the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development, an Ernakulam-based NGO that works among migrant communities. “The anganwadis in these areas will have to adjust their timings to cater to the migrant community,” he added.

TNM visited many anganwadis in the migrant camp areas of Perumbavoor and found that most of them are empty or have very few children. In the Vazhakulam anganwadi, for example, there are only six children, and two of them are from the migrant community. Shaju EM, a staff member, said that migrant families form a majority in the area, but they do not bring their children to the anganwadi. “We have done many field visits, but they are not ready yet,” Shaju said.

The situation was no different at another anganwadi we visited in Kandanthara, where five children are enrolled but only two attend regularly. In the area around the anganwadi, TNM met at least 10 children under the age of four, who usually accompany their parents to work or are left at home with their siblings. “We try to convince the parents to send their children to the anganwadi, it is our duty to do so. But due to their working hours, they are unable to do so,” Fathima, a teacher at the Kandanthara anganwadi, told TNM.

Benoy pointed out that fundamental changes need to be made in the design of anganwadis. “Changing anganwadi timings would not only benefit migrants but all working women. Schools and anganwadis are the safest places for children,” he said.

After several incidents of accidents and crimes against migrant children in the state hit the headlines, the government had initiated a mobile crèche project for migrant children in the Vengola grama panchayat. The project is being sponsored by the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and the Sawmill Owners and Plywood Manufacturers Association (SOPMA), besides the panchayat’s own funds.

The crèche is open from 7am to 7pm and has a vehicle to pick up children from home. Approximately 15 children currently attend the crèche.

“Normally, SOPMA covers the cost of feeding the children in the crèche. But recently they told us that this is a huge expense and they need the government to contribute,” said Salma, one of the staff members.

While these are steps in the right direction, they are not enough, Shihab said. “Even if we start 50 more crèches in Perumbavoor, it will not be enough. We need more facilities,” he added.

After the Aluva rape and murder case sparked outrage across the state, the state government announced that it would take steps to set up childcare facilities and creches around schools in Aluva and Perumbavoor areas, home to thousands of migrant workers.

But as Benoy told TNM in an earlier interview, the ideal solution is to integrate the migrant worker population into the mainstream of the state. “When that happens, delinquents or anti-social elements get flagged. What is needed is friendship with the migrants instead of xenophobic attitudes. The Malayali people have benefited immensely from our expat community. We need to know that we should not treat migrant workers as second-class citizens,” he said.

This report is from The News Minute as part of The News Minute-Newslaundry alliance. It has been lightly edited for style and clarity. Find out more about our partnership and become a TNM subscriber.

When you read this story, you won’t see any ads. That’s because Newslaundry enables ad-free journalism that’s truly in the public interest. Support our work and .