Requirements to allay rural distress and human trafficking

New Delhi, July 6 (IANSlife) Human Liberty Network (HLN), a network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) with a vision for a human trafficking free society, released the findings of a survey it conducted in 15 districts of Bihar and 6 districts of Uttar Pradesh, and the revelations will have you squirming.





1200+ respondents revealed major challenges related to livelihood, access to health services, nutrition and basic needs post the return of migrant workers, which strongly increases their vulnerability to rural distress, debt bondage and human trafficking.

The survey further reinforced targeted and coordinated efforts from the state governments and community based organisations, for rapid implementation of support mechanisms for the vulnerable.

As a result of the lockdown, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been the worst affected states due to reverse migration, with 30 lakh people returning to Uttar Pradesh and 32 Lakh returning to Bihar as per the survey. Influx of such large numbers is displaying a direct impact on the rise of social injustice in the region. Stronger enforcement and better coordination between multiple stakeholders with a holistic can therefore play a game-changing role in protecting the lives of returnee migrants from exploitation and human trafficking.

In the survey titled "Immediate Requirements to Allay Rural Distress and Human Trafficking" the following disturbing statistics came to fore:

Bihar

Only 29 percent of the population has active job cards; districts Saharsa, Sitamarhi, and Gopalganj are underperforming in providing jobs;

only 37 percent of Gram Panchayats have adopted special measures for the single women workers

79.8 percent of Panchayats in the study area surveyed home visits by ASHA;

79.53 percent of the Panchayats did not survey any VHND conducted in the past 2 monthsUttar Pradesh

The unemployment rate has risen to 23.8 percent in May 2020; work demanded under MGNREGA has increased by 307 percent; poor coverage of special measures and low functioning of Common Service Centres (CSC)

60.77 percent of the Panchayats in the study area did not survey any VHND conducted in the past 2 months;

Underlining urgent interventions, Human Liberty Network strongly recommends:

Improving livelihood: Mandate door to door registration of job cards; spreading awareness on MGNREGA through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities; registration of single women for MGNREGA job cards; expansion of the scope of work in accordance with the skill mapping, increasing coverage and functionality of CSCs

Non-COVID related health issues: Coverage of Government healthcare schemes including Ayushman Bharat should be rapidly expanded especially among the most vulnerable communities to address a key driver of debt bondage i.e. emergency healthcare costs.

Improving access to education: Special measures are taken so that vulnerable children can return to school as soon as possible

Special workers should be tasked with identifying all out-of-school children, re-enrolling and retaining them

Special measures should be taken to disassociate schools from the stigma of being converted into quarantine centres.

Improve access to all schemes: As Know Your Consumer (KYC) compliance is the biggest reason for poor disbursement of free dry ration. Identification process of poor families without ration cards by JEEVIKA Self Help Groups should be strengthened.



Speaking on the findings of the survey, a member of the Human Liberty Network, said, "The impact of COVID-19 and lockdown situation has been most severe on communities that are already disadvantaged and vulnerable to shocks. The network undertook this study to assess the impact on livelihood, health, education, nutrition, and basic needs associated with COVID-19. It illustrates the links between these effects and an increased vulnerability to human trafficking and conditions of bondage by providing a rapid assessment of the ground realities vis-à-vis policy measures to assist the government in providing action-oriented steps. Our top recommendations are that the issues surrounding marginalized communities should be addressed through coordinated efforts with key stakeholders. The governments should adopt measures for strengthening the accountability of Rozgar Sewaks and improving monitoring mechanisms through door to door registration of job cards for returning migrants."

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--IANS

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