While women constitute a considerable share of urban migrants, but governments seems blind to their concerns.
Our policy makers need to model plans for enhancing the lot of migrants in general and urban-women migrants in particular.
What are the trends in women migration?
A recent UN report says India is on the “brink of an urban revolution”, as its population in towns and cities are expected to reach 600 million by 2031.
Fuelled by migration, megacities of India (Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata) will be among the largest urban concentrations in the world.
Interestingly, the 2011 Census reveals that women constitute a major share of the urban migrant population, which is a new trend.
Marriage-induced migration continues to be the predominant reason for the overwhelming presence of women among migrants.
But its importance has declined post liberalisation as export-oriented economic development has created demand for women labour.
An “Indiaspend analysis” shows that women migrating for work grew by 101%, which is more than double the growth rate for men, which stands at 48.7%.
However, both the Census and National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) have failed to capture this growing trend of women’s work related migration.
Consequently, such surveys treat women as secondary earners and ignore her other motivations for migration and her labour participation post migration.
What are the concerns?
Overall - Internal migration is currently very high but governments continue to exclude migrants from urban development policies.
Even the enactment of “Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act” hasn’t yielded desired results.
Women - Female migration trends has not yet recognised women as economic actors, thereby their experiences in migration remains unexplored.
They are largely seen as either secondary labour force or mere family baggage that is merely accompanying their male counterparts.
Migrants in general are faced with challenges in getting basic documentation done, accessing social entitlements and financial services.
Women migrants are further disadvantaged as they are underpaid at work, vulnerable to sexual crime, and face maternity related complications.
Hazardous work environments further their woes, and a good percentage of women workers face “respiratory illness, ergonomic problems (body aches), mental and reproductive health issues.
What is the way ahead?
Recognising that women migrants have a right to equal access to employment, adequate income and social protection is primarily needed.
There should be better data collection to capture the complex dynamics of gender-specific migration to help the state respond better to their needs.
We need to enhance vocational training programs to improve employability of women migrants and their access to support services.
Kerala has initiated to provide insurance and free medical treatment for its 30 million migrant workers, which needs to be emulated by others.
The political inclusion of migrants would also democratise urban governance and ensure the building of cities on the basis of gender equality.
