Registration gap puts Jharkhand’s migrant welfare system under scanner

A sharp gap between estimated migrant workers and those officially registered with the state came under scrutiny in the Jharkhand Assembly on Friday, triggering a broader debate on the adequacy of migrant welfare mechanisms.

During Question Hour, Dumri MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato claimed that nearly 16 lakh workers from Jharkhand are employed outside the state, while only about 2.19 lakh have been registered on the government’s Shramadhan portal. The disparity, he argued, weakens the state’s ability to extend social security benefits to a large section of its migrant workforce.

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Responding on behalf of the government, Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav informed the House that as of February 16, a total of 2,19,169 migrant workers had registered on the portal. He said awareness campaigns were being intensified to bring more workers under the registration framework.

The exchange also brought into focus the state’s institutional approach to migrant welfare. When asked whether the government intended to constitute a Jharkhand Migrant Workers Commission, the minister ruled out any immediate need for such a body. He pointed out that a State Migrant Control Room is functioning under the Labour Department in Doranda and coordinates with other states to address issues faced by workers.

The discussion revived concerns about whether the control room model is sufficient for a state known for high out-migration. Members informally noted that while Jharkhand had mobilised buses, trains and even flights to bring workers home during the Covid pandemic, the crisis had exposed the absence of a comprehensive and real-time migrant database.

Compensation for deaths of migrant workers in other states also became a point of contention. Currently, Rs 50,000 is provided from the Chief Minister’s Jharkhand Migrant Workers Accident Relief Fund to transport mortal remains to the native place in case of death, whether natural or accidental. Mahato demanded that the amount be enhanced to Rs 5 lakh, calling the present assistance inadequate.

The minister said the proposal to increase the compensation would be discussed with the Chief Minister and acknowledged that there was scope for reviewing the amount.