KOZHIKODE: Providing identity cards for migrant farmers as announced in the 100-day programme of the UDF government will commence in the district before Onam. This is part of implementing the ‘Kerala Migrant Workers Welfare Scheme’ in the state. The ID cards will be distributed to the workers on the spot itself after remitting a fee of Rs 30 with the help of Keltron.According to the Regional Joint Labour Commissioner, apart from facilitating better working condition and providing welfare schemes, it will help the authorities take the census of migrant workers in the state. “Today roughly around six lakh migrant workers are employed in the state. But after the distribution of the cards we will have their exact number. It will also help the authorities get their details more easily in case of any criminal activities or emergency,” he added.The scheme, which was inaugurated by the previous government, had failed to take off owing to the Assembly elections.But now the UDF government has made it mandatory for the migrant workers to have ID cards from January 2012 onwards.“The Labour Department has already started to provide cards in the districts of Kollam, Alappuzha and Kasargod. It was earlier decided that the ID card distribution will commence in the district on August 19. But the time constraints of the Keltron has forced us to postpone it. We will start distribution of the cards in two to three weeks time and have already reached an agreement with the employers of these workers in the district,” the Commissioner said.As it is found that most of the migrant workers in the district are casual labourers and employed in the field of construction and footwear industries, the scheme will help the authorities study more about their working condition.Apart from the ID cards, the scheme offers several welfare programmes to the workers which include Rs 50,000 in case of accidental death and Rs 10,000 for natural death. It will also provide Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 to carry the workers body to the native place.
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