By Matters India Reporter
Hyderabad, March 4, 2019: Church in Telugu region is willing to assist workers to avail government schemes, says Sister Tessy Paul, secretary, the Telugu Catholic Bishops’ Council (TCBC) Commission for Labour.
It is important to partner with organizations which are already in to action in order to help poor unemployed people, organize the unorganized workers to help themselves, create awareness on human trafficking, bonded labor and pre-departure orientation training, she said.
She was speaking at the two-day workshop on migration organized by Telugu region Commission for Labour and Office for Labour of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India at Montfort Social Institute, Hyderabad.
The March 2-3 workshop helped 50 participants to chalk out an action plan pertaining to each diocese and to the workers in their area, said Sister Paul.
“Option for the poor is not an option but an obligation,” said Bishop Prince Antony of Adilabad, TCBC chairman, Commission for Labour while addressing the participants.
He also invited the group to think globally and act locally to address the issues of migrants and the unorganised workers.
The workshop threw light on the issues of interstate and overseas migrants from Hyderabad.
“We need to be effective than efficient. The Social teachings of the church teach us to care for our migrant workers,” said Joy Gothuruth, president, Workers India Federation (WIF).
The State of Kerala has ‘Inter State Migrant Workers Welfare Scheme’, for those registered migrant workers in Kerala. He shared the contribution of the church in forming the trade unions in Kerala. He spoke on the plight of the unorganized migrant workers in the present socio political scenario. Inaction of Government towards the welfare of these people is mere negligence. He presented the various schemes brought out by the Government for the unorganized workers.
Workshop was thematically and practically dealt by various exponents.
Sister Lissy Joseph,director NWWT, Hyderabad on Government Regulations and Policies on Migration, Sister Rani Punnaserril, Programme Manager, CBCI Office for Labour on initiatives of CBCI Office for Labour, Vyjayanthi, Founder Queer Swabhiman Yatra on Anti Human Trafficking, Jesuit Father Jayaseelan on Issues and Challenges of Migrants, Sister Arockiam, on Violence against women at workplace, Dr. E. Gangadhar, the Joint Labour Commissioner explained the various schemes the government has brought out for the welfare of the workers.