Odisha native Rajendra Naik is keen on learning about the welfare schemes available for inter-State workers in Kerala and the channels to tap them.
Naik has been working in the State for 17 years now but has remained clueless about the government’s schemes for migrant workers. On Thursday, he chose to shoot his queries at the Chairman and members of the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) at a public hearing at the Town Hall.
Naik suggested the setting up of special units and helplines to familiarise migrant workers with the government programmes for them. The other demands included enhancement of financial support as part of the medical insurance scheme and the setting up of a grievance redress mechanism.
Jancy, a social worker, said that there should be hostel facilities for the uninterrupted education of the wards of migrant workers. Many of them have no idea about the need for continued education, she added. Trade union representative Sonia George said that Kerala should connect with the native States of migrant workers while devising and implementing projects for them. There were also demands to curb the exploitation of women workers and children from other States. Trade union representative Jose Kappithan Parambil pointed out the inequity of offering lower wages to workers from other States. “This calls for unification of wages,” he said.
The hearing also witnessed calls for the creation of a State Senior Citizens’ Commission and a department for the welfare of senior citizens. K. Sukumaran, former judge of the High Court, said that petitions by senior citizens should be decided within 15 days.
Host of suggestions
A host of suggestions on the welfare of senior citizens also included a plea to cut out needless interventions by advocates while considering disputes over protection of parents under the Maintenance Act.
