Status and Policy Recommendations for Migrant Workers in Bihar
On 24 June 2025 – A state level workshop
titled "Status and Policy Recommendations for Migrant Workers in
Bihar" was organized at the A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies
(ANISS), Patna. The event was held under the project “Enhancing Civil
Society Organization Capacities in Response to the Socio-Economic Impact of
COVID-19 in India”, implemented by Ghogardiha Prakhand Swarajya Vikas
Sangh (GPSVS) in collaboration with Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and
supported by the European Union.
This strategic workshop
marked a crucial milestone in addressing the vulnerabilities of migrant workers
in Bihar. It aimed to strengthen policy frameworks, promote convergence, and
institutionalize the rights and entitlements of migrant households in the
state.
The event was inaugurated
by Hon’ble Labour Resources Minister of Bihar, Shri Santosh Kumar Singh,
who lit the ceremonial lamp and released a key policy document titled “Status
of Migrant Workers in Bihar”, prepared by GPSVS. In a warm gesture, Shri
Ramesh Kumar Singh, Chairman of GPSVS, welcomed the Minister with a Mithila
painting and traditional stole.
Md. Ataullah, Project Coordinator of GPSVS, presented the key achievements of the project, highlighting
its impact on capacity-building, skill development, social security linkage,
and awareness generation among migrant households across districts. He
emphasized the project’s success in facilitating convergence with departments
such as Labour, RSETI, JEEViKA, and Panchayati Raj Institutions. The Hon’ble
Minister appreciated the commendable work done under the project,
particularly its on-ground impact and collaborative approach, and stressed the
importance of scaling such efforts with government partnership.
In her project overview, Ms.
Aparna Lall, Head of Project at WHH, emphasized the need for a unified and
evidence-based policy framework to protect migrant workers and their families.
She called for a strategic shift from reactive support to proactive
rights-based intervention.
Powerful testimonials
were shared by migrant workers such as Vansh Narayan Mehta, who spoke
about becoming self-reliant after receiving skill training during the COVID
period through GPSVS. Today, he serves as a trainer, helping others rebuild
their livelihoods. Other migrant representatives, Munchun and Dipesh
Rai, also shared their journeys, which resonated strongly with the audience
and were attentively acknowledged by the Minister.
Dr. Aviral Kumar Pandey, Assistant Professor at ANISS, presented a research-backed report on
the condition of migrant workers in Bihar, exposing critical gaps in access to
entitlements, identity recognition, and social protection. His recommendations
laid a strong foundation for policy reform and interdepartmental alignment.
The technical session,
chaired by Shri Aditya Rajhans, Additional Labour Commissioner, featured
actionable inputs from officials and experts. Mr. Ganesh Kumar Jha,
Sub-Registrar (Labour Department), Mr. Niraj Kumar Singh from JEEViKA,
and Dr. Rajesh Pandey from WHO Bihar emphasized the urgency of
cross-sector collaboration and timely grievance redressal.
A powerful presentation
by Dr. Anand Vijita from BSDMA highlighted lessons from the Balasore
train accident, calling for a robust migration safety protocol. Contributions
from Prof. Surya Bhushan (DMI Patna), Dr. Sunil Kumar (CIMP), and
Mr. Abhishek Anand (UNICEF) focused on labor rights, climate resilience,
and social protection for migrant workers in the post-COVID era.
The afternoon session,
moderated by Ms. Aparna Lall and Dr. Ajay Kumar Jha (State
Coordinator, GPSVS), culminated in key action points:
- Creation of a comprehensive migrant worker database linked
to welfare schemes;
- Regular capacity-building of PRIs and frontline workers on
migration governance;
- Strengthened coordination with banks and vendors to ease
credit access for skilled returnees;
- Integration of migrant-centric planning in Gram Sabhas and
Panchayat Development Plans;
- Expansion of district migration resource centres and
helplines for continuous support.
The workshop concluded
with strong remarks on the need for systemic, rights-based, and scalable
solutions. Over 150 participants, including senior government
officials, CSO leaders, academics, PRI members, media representatives, and
migrant workers, took part in the dialogue. The workshop established a strong
precedent for participatory, evidence-based policymaking and renewed the
collective commitment to making Bihar a model state for migrant worker
protection and empowerment.
