Stakeholders Consultation on Networking to Serve Migrants

Eleven State Government Departments, eleven NGOs and Migrant Leaders come together to work for the well being of migrants in Thiruvananthapuram district

Mr.S.Shamnad - Sub Judge and secretry DLSA addressing the consultation

Trivandrum Don Bosco Veedu Society conducted a consultation to improve quality services to Migrants in Kerala. Major purpose of the consultation was to converge experience and expertise of stakeholders engaged in migrant services and to deliberate on the importance of networking to serve migrants. 44 persons who head various government departments and NGOs attended the consultation. Eight leaders represented migrant community in the district

11 Government Departments, including District Legal Service Authority, Labour Department, Centre for Development Studies, Child Welfare Committee, Railway Police Force, Police Department, Health Department, District Child Protection Unit, Childline, Mahilamandiram, and Vimukthi have contributed in the meeting.

Nine Non-Government agencies attended the consultation. They are Daleview, Dream, Trivandrum Social Service Society, Malankara Social Service Society, Sebastian Indian Social Projects, Kanal, Migrant Extension Services – Loyola College, Hotel and Restaurant association and DoC.

Fr. Jiji Kalavanal, Rector of Don Bosco Veedu formally welcomed and Fr. Saji Elambasseril, Director of Don Bosco Veedu set the stage by sharing The Migrant Landscape of Kerala. Mr. S. Shamnad (Sub-Judge and Secretary DLSA) was the chief guest of the consultation. Fr. Francis Bosco, National Director, DB4M made a brief presentation on “Migrant Scenario in India” followed by Prof. (Dr) Praveena Kodoth, CDS Trivandrum, on “Importance of Networking to Serve Migrants Better” with evidences and data from across the country.

All stakeholders shared their views and recommendations to build strong networking to serve migrants in the group discussion moderated by Mr. A. V. George. A core team was formed from the participants to further plan and schedule next round of consultation wherein all stakeholders who could not attend this meeting would be represented and engaged.

Fr. Mathew Thomas – Salesian representative to UN, facilitated a way forward session enabling participants to finalyse future plan of action. The core committee will further consider and take it forward. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Manuel George.