DISHA


			A Balwadi for the children of migrant tribal construction labourers

The communities living in tribal areas of the eastern tribal belt have meager land-holding and cultivation of their land depend on rain-water in absence of irrigation facilities. But, the yield they get is hardly enough to see through for some months of the year. In absence of any other source of income or employment, thousands of families migrate to cities and towns of Gujarat for upto 8 months to engage themselves in labour work in construction industry. However, here have been exposed to the exploitation by the contractors and builders, violation of their rights to adequate and proper wage and working conditions, unhealthy and inadequate living conditions (shelter, water, health, etc.) and harassment by police and anti-social elements.

			Bandhkam Majdoor Sangathan was founded in July 1993 with the aim to organize and work for the interests of the tribals migrating as labourers in the construction industry. At present BMS covers 16 settlements of migrant tribals at different places in Ahmedabad city, as well as there is a unit of the Sangathan in Dahod, which is attached to DISHAís Limkheda office. However, BMS takes up complaints and cases of migrant tribal construction workers in other cities and towns of Gujarat and make representations in Labour office and courts concerning those areas.


		Migrant tribal construction labourers raising their issues in various forms of protest (1) Cycle Rally (2) Padyatra (3) Dharna

	The main activities of BMS comprise taking-up employment related complaints and cases of construction workers and work towards their solution; raise awareness among the labourers about their exploitation and other critical issues as well as about favourable provisions of laws; run Balwadis (day-care centers) for providing preschool education to the children of migrant workers; raise awareness among women workers about their rights, health issues and encourage savings activity among them; organize health-camps for them; raise far-reaching longterm benefiting demands such as provision of seasonal shelters for migrant workers, implementation of Central laws favouring them, etc.