District panchayat president Eldhose Kunnappillil has called for stringent action by departments concerned against employers guilty of overworking migrant workers and accommodating them in unhygienic environments.
He said that the district panchayat would coordinate the works of various local bodies and departments to address the health problems faced by migrant workers. Mr. Kunnappillil was addressing a meeting to review the Suraksha Migrant project being implemented by Rajagiri Outreach in association with the district panchayat. Presidents of local bodies, health standing committee chairpersons, and officials of various departments attended the meeting.
Though the district is home to about one lakh migrant workers, the Labour Department has details of only about 25,000 of them. Mr. Kunnappillil observed that Perumbavur alone accounted for as many workers.
There is not a single panchayat in the district without the presence of migrant workers. Hence, efforts for collecting details about them at the panchayat level should be intensified.
The meeting found reports on the detection of diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases, among migrant workers alarming. Local bodies should take the initiative to create awareness among migrant workers. Mr. Kunnappillil asked the Health and Labour Departments to undertake comprehensive health checks among migrant workers and to issue them health cards.
District panchayat vice-president Bindu George presided over the function.
The Labour Department warned of action against employers who denied access to Suraksha Migrant project workers to sites employing migrant workers.
Medical camps for migrant workers will be organised under the aegis of the National Rural Health Mission and primary health centres.
The meeting decided to organise classes, exhibitions and screening of films to create health awareness among migrant workers.
