How has Tamil Nadu Registered Over 12 Lakh Migrant Workers?

Chennai, Aug 6 (NationPress) While Bihar is facing challenges with the exclusion of thousands of migrant workers from the current Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Tamil Nadu has set a benchmark in monitoring its inter-state migrant (ISM) workforce.

Official statistics indicate that Tamil Nadu has documented more than 12.17 lakh guest workers engaged in diverse sectors. Notably, over 2.51 lakh of these workers originate from Bihar, positioning them as the second-largest ISM group in the state, just behind Odisha, which contributes 2.89 lakh workers.

The state's innovative approach to cataloging and overseeing migrant workers commenced in early 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The Tamil Nadu government introduced a specialized web portal, encouraging ISMs, their employers, and district authorities to register these workers.

This initiative is geared towards ensuring the effective distribution of welfare schemes under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act, 1996, and the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979.

A senior government official reported a notable increase in registrations over the past six months. “We successfully enrolled nearly three lakh workers recently through online registrations and targeted outreach at work sites. The total registrations surged from approximately nine lakh to over 12 lakh in just four months,” the official stated.

However, he recognized that accessing workers in small shops, plantations, and independent units remains a significant hurdle. Experts estimate that the registered figure represents less than 25 percent of the actual ISM population in the state, where migrants are attracted by stable employment and comparatively better living conditions.

As per government data dated July 31, workers from northern and northeastern states comprise 9.28 lakh of the total ISMs in Tamil Nadu. In addition to Odisha and Bihar, substantial numbers originate from Jharkhand (1.95 lakh), West Bengal (1.91 lakh), Assam (93,175), and Uttar Pradesh (91,497). The primary employment sectors for ISMs in Tamil Nadu include manufacturing, construction, and textiles, which together account for over 80 percent of the jobs.

Remarkably, 26,106 workers registered as self-employed, and 41,723 are engaged in catering services.

Among districts, Tirupur leads with 1.22 lakh ISM workers in the textile and garment sector and 72,463 in manufacturing. Kancheepuram follows with 1.61 lakh workers, driven by its construction and industrial initiatives. Coimbatore and Chennai have 1.32 lakh and 1.29 lakh ISM workers, respectively.