(MissionNewswire) A new research study on the children of migrant construction workers in six cities in India was released at the 13th National Boscoree in Nashik, an ancient holy city within the western Indian state of Maharashtra. The study, authored by Dr. Ajoy Fernandes, director of the Don Bosco Research Center in Mumbai, is available for sale from the Tej-Prasarini Don Bosco Communications Mumbai Office.

The research study explored the impact of the socio-economic and living conditions of migrant construction workers, especially on the health and education of their children, in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kochi, Mumbai and Pune. It identifies local, state and national-level policies and programs that help migrant construction workers gain access to entitlements for food, accommodation, healthcare and education for their children.

Doctor R. B. Bhagat and Dr. R. S. Reshmi of the International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai, Dr. K. Anilkumar and Dr. Nilesh Gawde of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and Father Savio Silveira all provided technical guidance and training for the report. The new study opens up pathways for further research by civil and government organizations.

Data collection for the study was handled by Shailesh Parmar of the STEP Foundation in Ahmedabad, V. Shivshankar of Bengaluru, Chandana Das of Delhi, Dr. Ajith Kumar of the Center for Socio-Economic and Environmental Studies in Kerala and the Don Bosco Research Center in Mumbai and Pune. Doctor Mansi Bawdekar of the Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work did the statistical analysis of the data.

Father Joaquim Fernandes, South Asia Don Bosco Communications Delegate and Director of Tej-Prasarini Don Bosco said, “This is a collaborative and coordinated effort. With this publication, we will be able to reach out better to migrant families in a planned manner to uplift the migrant population, especially the children in our mega cities.”

He added, “I am deeply indebted to the Don Bosco Research Center for their research, field and accounting staff and to the Salesians of Don Bosco for the effort made to discuss this crucial topic in the light of earlier researches. The information and insights in this book will definitely be a valuable resource for all the stakeholders to understand the struggles of migrant construction workers and their children, and thus seek out interventions to assist them.”

India has the world’s fourth largest economy but more than 22 percent of the country lives in poverty. About 31 percent of the world’s multidimensionally poor children live in India, according to a new report by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. A “multidimensionally poor” child is one who lacks at least one-third of 10 indicators, grouped into three dimensions of poverty: health, education and standard of living.

India’s youth face a lack of educational opportunities due to issues of caste, class and gender. Almost 44 percent of the workforce is illiterate and less than 10 percent of the working-age population has completed a secondary education. In addition, many secondary school graduates do not have the knowledge and skills to compete in today’s changing job market.

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Sources:

Don Bosco India – Book on Children of Migrant Construction Workers in India released at Boscoree 2018

World Bank – India