By Sujata Jena

Bhubaneswar, July 25, 2020: The sudden announcement of a nationwide lockdown on March 25 hit millions of most vulnerable people, especially migrant workers who survive only by moving.

While most state governments showed apathy to the migrants’ suffering Kerala in southern India became a model of handling the issue with commendable ease.

This was possible mainly because of Pranab Jyoti Nath, the labour commissioner of the Kerala government.

“For Kerala, migrant workers are the partners of the development processes and therefore they are considered guests to the state,” Nath says.

Under Nath’s leadership, the labor department has been dealing the issues of guest workers efficiently whether it is the lockdown stress or personal issues. The Kerala government provided food and medical care, and arranged transportation and counseling besides engaging the guest workers with the available work even during lockdown.

Kerala around 2.5 million internal migrants, according to a 2013 study by the Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation.

Nath’s present research study titled “Guest workers in Kerala along time” reveals that the state has migrant laborers from 25 states. A majority of them came from east and northeastern India.

Nath, a native of Assam, wears many hats. He has won an award for Skill Development from the federal government when he was the CEO of Odisha Livelihoods Mission.

The 45-year-old, labor officer became Kerala’s Labor Commissioner in January this year, just before the coronavirus outbreak. In the short time, he handled 430,000 guest workers of Kerala by attending to their needs of food, shelter and transportation in collaboration with all other related departments.

Sacred Hearts Sister Sujata Jena interviewed Nath for Matters India. Excerpts:

How did you get involved in helping migrant laborers? What has been your experience?

As the labor commissioner of Kerala, it was the officially assigned duty for me. Along with my team I got involved in migrant labor related activities. I do not compromise my responsibility for anything else. Among land, labor and capital, labor is the core in the development process, I believe.

In Kerala, a non-negotiable consensus has emerged regarding the role of the guest workers. It has been possible because of the responsive ecosystem that comprises the state, political parties and the greater civil society. We learnt various issues concerning the migrant workers in general and during lockdown period in particular. It has been an enriching experience.

What are the challenges you have? What are some joyful moments and sad moments?

Initially, the challenge was to systematize the grievances redressal mechanism. And also, to design and roll out friendly governance module for the guest (migrant) workers in Kerala and to materialize the MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) supportive payment ecosystem. MSME facilitation council has been our constant effort.

I consider challenge as an opportunity to grow. That’s why I never had a hard time in my job. Fortunately, I have got a committed team. I give them freedom to explore and share their ideas. We work together to the best of our ability.

The Joyful moments are when we saw the guest workers happy because of the frontline efforts of our field officers.

How do you assess the contribution of NGOs in helping the migrant laborers?

NGOs did a commendable job in providing information about the stranded workers. Before the prime minister called on the NGOs to help the government during the lockdown the NGOs, and civil society in general, had already started reaching out to people who were facing crises. They provided basic necessities to the underprivileged, supplying medical and protective gear, and assisting with awareness campaigns on social distancing.

One thing that the present situation has grown up with, no government or single organization can do anything. It has to be a collaborative effort. All people are involved, and we are part of what is happening in terms of building up a better community.

Why did India face this huge migrant laborer problem? Who is to be blamed?

The government does not have a comprehensive data about the migrant workers. We need to register the migrant workers, skill them, and gradually include them in all development-related sectors.
Recently, we have tasked a team of volunteers with finding the information such as names and bank details of 400,00 migrant laborers living in temporary shelters ensure they get assistance. The lockdown may be lifted, but this (data) is relevant for coming months. Policy making is not possible without the numbers. I see a precious opportunity in the coronavirus crisis – documenting the country’s legions of migrant workers to help boost their rights.

How did the state governments handle the migrants’ issue? What are the lessons learned?

As a whole, the Kerala government has very friendly labor laws. This has helped build a compassionate response system for the migrant workers during the time of crises.

My team and I take utmost care to ensure the well-being and safety of the guest workers. I need to step out to monitor everything, check if things are in place. I don’t believe in half-hearted efforts. We have reached out to hundred of young labors in government-run camps and shelter homes to counsel and help them out when the state reported seven suicidal death during lockdown. In the food relief camp, we made sure that even food preferences of people from different states are into account.

For our entire team, it’s an enlightening experience when we look back on the entire experience.

Please tell us some more about you.

I hail from Asam, the land of tea, hills and valleys. I am the son of Dineswar Nath and Arati Devi. I studied in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. I am married to Mamtarani Naik, an officer of the Odisha Administrative Service. Our only son is Uditadiya Nath. I do sing. My wife is also a professional lyrist.

I am the IAS officer of 2005 batch Kerala Cadre. Being in the IAS has provided an opportunity to work in a wide spectrum of portfolios across sectors including district administration, law and order maintenance, crises and event management, conducting election to development administration.

Before my appointment as the Kerala labor commissioner, I was the director of Industries 2019, government of Odisha (2019), CEO of Odisha Livelihoods Mission (2015-2018), Director of Employment, Government of Odisha (2014-2015), District Collector and District Magistrate, Kollam district (2014), Mission Director, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Kerala (2013) to name a few.

Anything else you would like to share?

Life is about to be a part of an energy and keep moving along with it. It’s not about success, it’s for next milestones to reach and new heights to climb. It’s been immensely inspiring to get constructively engaged in various aspects to work for an inclusive society. Be it the context of micro-level detailed implementation, the expansion and alignment of development incubation or partnership or the work at a scale with government development facilitation can only help bringing equity in growth.

I thank you all for networking with me for the migrants for the wonderful work you have done during the entire period of crises in facilitating the migrant workers to come back their native places. Let’s put our hands on this journey.