National Commission for Women in association with Kerala Women’s Commission organized a two day National Consultation on problem and safety of Indian Female Migrant Workers. The National Consultation was inaugurated by Hon’ble Governor of Kerala Smt. Sheila Dikshit who called for a detailed study on the reasons why women migrate abroad in search of jobs and said that women were being forced to migrate abroad due to financial and domestic problems and inequitable distribution of wealth and natural resources.

Chairing the inaugural session, Chief Minister of Kerala Sh. Oommen Chandy pointed out that while there were about 2 million migrants from Kerala working in different parts of the world, migrants from other places working in Kerala were contributing to the development of the State. Delivering the keynote address, Social Welfare Minister M.K. Muneer regretted the absence of exact statistics and database of migrants and pointed out that migrants to Gulf countries faced violation of human rights.

Member Dr. Charu WaliKhanna said women are often described as the better half of man. Womens, status has been argued as indicator of the level of development of particular societies. But today these assumptions are seriously under threat and actual condition of women in the world and particular in developing countries like that of India, does not tally with these description. More than one million people in the world today, the great majority of who are women, lives in unacceptable conditions.

In India the situation of women is worse especially the women migrant workers. Who are one of the most invisible and deprived groups of the people. They have no voice for claiming any right to for help. The economic, social, cultural and political factors influence the decision to move. Article 19 of the Indian Constitution provides people basic freedom to move to any part of the country and the right to reside and earn a livelihood in the place of their choice. Poverty, unemployment and helplessness force people to leave their place of origin and to go to unknown places to work in extremely difficult condition. Member asked the participants to close their eyes for a minute and pray for the safety of the 44 nurses from Kerala who were trapped in Iraq.
Member prior to the National Consultation travelled in rural areas of Kerala and met migrant workers to understand their problems and identify factors leading to victimization of female Indian migrant workers in order to propose remedial measures. There appears to be a great need for ensuring transparency in the activities of recruiting agents and a need to have a constructive dialogue between the gulf countries for the protection of the human rights of Indian female migrant workers.

Member Shamina Shafiq stressed on the need for data on migration pattern of women and age profile of the women migrating.

Speakers included among others Dr. S Irudaya Rajan, chair professor, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Research Unit on International Migration, etc.

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