Migrant Workers : A Study of Labour Chowks in Lucknow City

Migration and urbanization are an integral part of economic development and societal transformation. People migrate on account of economic, social, political, marital, educational and religious reasons. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the biggest source states, followed closely by Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal; the major destination states are Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. The internal migration in India accounts for a large population. Substantial flows of labor migrants relocate from Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Haryana, Gujarat, and other states across northern and central India. Within the state of Uttar Pradesh also there is significant intra state migration to Lucknow, Kanpur and Ghaziabad. Internal migrants are generally excluded from the economic, cultural, social and political life of society and are often treated as second-class citizens. Seasonal migrants dominate the low-paying, hazardous and informal market jobs in key sectors in urban destinations, such as construction, hotel, textile, manufacturing, transportation, services, domestic work etc. The constraints faced by migrants are many fold which include lack of formal residency rights; lack of identity proof; inadequate housing; low-payment/ wages , insecure or hazardous work; extreme vulnerability of women and children to trafficking and sex exploitation; exclusion from social security and social development schemes. Against this view point, a study has been conducted to examine the socio-economic background, financial inclusion, trends in migration, employment and working conditions of migrant workers besides their purchasing behavior of ration and perception towards PDS System in selected labour chowks of Lucknow city. The books presents detailed profile of migrant labours , their living and working conditions, job environment, access to social security and social development schemes and prospects for linkages with Public Distribution System . The book will be of paramount importance for understanding the status of migrant workers and evolving roadmap and action plan for their empowerment and welfare.