The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Kerala sends out most number of migrants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 25, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Kerala sends out most number of migrants

Ramya Kannan

Tamil Nadu stands second granting emigration clearance to 1,17,000 workers

CHENNAI: Kerala has only just managed to out-stage Tamil Nadu as the State sending out the most number of migrants. But Tamil Nadu has stayed on in the second place, a slot it has held intermittently since 2000.

With Kerala granting emigration clearance to 1,25,000 workers, Tamil Nadu follows close behind at 1,17,000, according to figures released by the newly-formed Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and compiled by the Chennai-based Arunodhaya Migrant Initiative.

The surprise this year seems Karnataka, third on the list with 75,384 endorsements for semi-skilled or non-skilled, illiterate and semi-literate labourers going abroad to seek a fortune.

This year also marks the highest number of workers — 5,48,853 as against last year's record of 4,74,960 — emigrating to countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia, Bahrain, Qatar, Mauritus and Jordan.

A majority of migrant workers from Tamil Nadu continue to go to the Gulf countries, Singapore and Malaysia. "They come under the category 3D workers, or those who are required to do dangerous, difficult and dirty jobs," explains Bernard D' Sami of Arunodhaya Migrant Initiative.

The report has also highlighted the huge burden of illegal migration from the country. "If over five lakh legal migrants are listed, we have reason to believe that an equal number moves shores illegally in search of work," D'Sami explains. This is undocumented and has led to a number of problems for the workers who seek the help of agents or touts to go abroad.

The rule restricting women below 30 years to leave the country in search of domestic labour has actually increased the number of women going abroad illegally, he says. Women from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu apparently desire to go abroad to work as domestic labour, but with this clause preventing them, they have begun to turn to agents, paying huge sums to secure travel documents and work permits.

"Considering that imposition of this rule has thwarted the very purpose for which it was evolved — keeping women migrants safe from abuse — and has put them in the clutches of unscrupulous agents, we have urged that it be re-evaluated," Prof.Sami says. A Central Overseas Manpower Corporation has also been sought to work alongside the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

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