Kozhikode: The district panchayat is actively considering enrolling migrant workers on the Malayalam language training programmes of the State Literacy Mission as part of efforts to equip them for effective communication with officials.
The civic body has decided to go ahead with the plan on realising that the native languages of migrant workers are almost Greek to most local body representatives. The knack of migrant workers for quickly learning Malayalam and their zeal for flawless conversation also have prompted the authorities to try out the new experiment.
According to district panchayat president Babu Parassery, it is seemingly a tall order for the authorities to train all local body representatives in non-Kerala languages. “Instead of attempting it, we are planning to give a free learning opportunity to migrant workers who wish to communicate better with local people in Malayalam,” he said.
Language training programme is among the special initiatives to ensure a comfortable time for migrant labourers at their workplaces. Civic body officials will soon hold discussions with the district literacy mission authorities on the training methods, timing, and other particulars of the course.
Mr. Babu said the Central and State governments have formulated a number of welfare schemes for migrants, which were often underutilised owing to their lack of knowledge and absence of communication with officials. “Special grama sabhas organised by various grama panchayats on the instructions of the Labour Department have come as a relief for several workers to air their concerns on a common platform and secure instant solutions,” he added.
A rough estimate of the department says there are over three lakh migrant workers living in various parts of Kozhikode district. Officials also point out that Feroke municipality has the highest concentration of migrants numbering around 25,000. They mostly converse in Hindi.
