Spandan initiatives on migration

Since its beginning Spandan has been concerned about the distress seasonal migration among the Morning tribe that was one of the worst victims of malnutrition. The concern was for the large number of families that migrated with children in Anganwadis. About a decade back the migration was inter district when people migrated during various farming seasons to work on big farmers’ fields. At that time nearly 15000 wage earners migrated. We took up the issue with Supreme Court and the Advisor to Supreme Court wrote to District admin to take necessary steps. Since a decade the nature of migration shifted and became interstate and to distant destinations like Goa and Surat. The tendency to migrate grew among the youth and networks of middlemen have become operative. We began to identify the migrant workers and issue them identity cards endorsed by the panchayat. It helped many workers to be safe while travelling or at work place. The adolescent girls received a distinct focus and they and their parents were counselled on safety and precautions when in trouble and were provided a kit containing toiletry, sanitary napkins, beddings and recreational materials like sewing kits, books and coloring items. A concrete sensitization was done on good touch and bad touch. Nearly 200 adolescent girls were so helped. Intermittently the people’s organization helped wage earners from touts and get wages. In times of COVID 19 we took up the cases of nearly 200 wage earners who were stranded at distant locations with district admin. Most of them have been brought back. We have initiated a process of providing dry ration and other essential commodities to wage earners in reverse migration. 100 were provided one month support. Masks were also provided and sensitization on sanitation and distancing. We are helping them to get work under MGNREGS.

We are also planning to help teenage tribal girls and single women set up micro enterprise.