The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Migrant children underfed’

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‘Migrant children underfed’

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: As many as 67 per cent of the children of construction workers in the National Capital Region suffer from malnutrition, according to a new study.

The study by “Mobile Creches” – which provides child care services – on the plight of 425 families of construction workers in the NCR has been published in the form of a book titled “Distress Migration: Identity and Entitlements" which was released here on Saturday.

“The study revealed that two-thirds of the families stayed less than one year at a given construction site. Access to basic facilities declined with a move from the village to the city. None of the families was taking their children to the nearest anganwadi,” said a statement from “Mobile Creches.” “Workers continue to be deprived of minimum wages, maternity entitlements and old age pension. Only one woman in the entire sample and 11 per cent of the 411 male workers interviewed received minimum wages,” it added.

A panel of academicians, activists and civil society groups speaking at the book release function called for national attention to the impact that forced migration created on the lives of poor families, especially their children.

“Young children are reared in conditions which violate all human rights and sharply increase the vulnerability of the families of such work seeking migrants. Moreover, temporary employment and constant mobility have put the construction workers outside the purview of State programmes, schemes and basic entitlements like ration cards, access to Integrated Child Development Services , health care and schooling. This further closes the door to all development opportunities for their children,” said Mobile Creches chairperson Anjali Alexander.

Magsaysay Awardee Aruna Roy said: “The State has the primary responsibility of providing women with entitlements for maternity and child care support.”

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