Invisible Citizens

Millions of people in South Asia are migrant workers, forced to travel large distances to find daily wage work in sectors such as construction, agriculture and domestic work.  

This kind of insecure work is often the only choice for people from excluded communities who are typically landless and rarely have access to education or vocational skills.

Karuna is working with local partner organisations with well-established networks in areas that are especially vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking. This enables us to reach out to communities of migrant labourers to remote areas across five states in India.

We are doing this by:

  • Establishing Migrant Resource Centres at key sites 

We provide support to migrants to access their rights and entitlements. This includes raising awareness among vulnerable families and connecting them to social security benefits, such as government food ration schemes 

  • Funding a toll-free telephone helpline and rescue team

We run a helpline giving migrants the ability to contact support from anywhere 24 hrs a day. In urgent cases, such as individuals being forcibly held against their will, the phone line connects to a rescue team that works with local police to locate and rescue those held hostage and helps them get financial compensation in cases of illegal exploitation.  

  • Facilitating the safe movement of migrant labourers into sustainable, non-exploitative livelihoods

Liaising with community leaders and State governments to streamline the process of supporting workers to migrate across State borders and work safely, including data collection and analysis.  

  • Establishing Women’s Information and Support Centres and formation of women’s peer support groups 

Women at risk of trafficking receive personal, emotional and legal support, and are supported to become more aware of the risks of trafficking and learn how to migrate safely. 

  • Training on women’s rights, legal protection against violence, economic empowerment and safe migration

Training for women, from their legal rights to entrepreneurship, is made available. This includes providing training to women in areas where the risk of trafficking is highest so that they can become more economically resilient and less vulnerable to exploitation.

CAN YOU HELP?

Migrant workers and victims of trafficking are in desperate need of extra support. Over the next 3 years, we are going to significantly extend our work with these communities, reaching out to 50,000 families per year to access improved livelihood security and protection from exploitation. We urgently need your help to do that.  

Can you help us bring thousands of families the security, safety and visibility they deserve? 

Ananta Lovett