Construction Sites

It is distressing to see the whole family moving from one state to another for their livelihood.  Young Migrants from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, UP, Andhra, Telangana, Orissa, West Bengal move from their home States to Tamil Nadu for construction works. They are sheltered in the tin houses inside or outside the construction sites. They do not have proper access to drinking water, toilet facilities, sanitation, and medical care. They are not enrolled in the payroll and as a result they are not assured of their minimum wages which leads to their exploitation by way of putting them to work more than 8 hours a day without any rest even on Sundays.

Brick Chambers

Young migrants and their families from Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Cuddalore districts, within Tamilnadu and also from Orissa move towards Tiruvallur district and Kancheepuram districts for their livelihood, to work in Brick chambers. This brick laying is a seasonal work, which lasts roughly for 6 months. TheIrulars (Tribals), from Andhra also cross the borders to work in these brick kilns in Tiruvalluvardt. Basic amenities for these young labourers on brick chamber sites are very poor. Contractors advance money to these labourers who in turn are bonded to work in the brick chambers for 6 months.

Loaders and Unloaders

Another big group that migrates from the villages with in the state, are the Youngsters from Tirunelveli, Ariyalur, Villupurama, Tiruavannamalai, and Cuddalur. Who mostly work in the Koyambedu vegetable, fruit and flower market. They do not have affordable options for residence hence, they sleep inside the shops, in the market, in the streets, in the bus stand and are prone to alcohol, prostitution and other anti-social activities.

Evicted Slum Migrants

Big cities like Chennai, gave refuge and hope to desperate rural folks who came in search of a future. They settled along the Coovam river and wherever they could find some vacant spaces. The present Government came up with the idea of building Smart cities which mandated the eviction of slum dwellers to the suburbs of the city far away from the places of their work and studies. This resulted in alienation of slum dwellers from their own territory. Access to education and employment became a nightmare overnight.

Domestic Workers

Engaging children and young girls in menial labour and domestic work from rural areas to cities for domestic work is a known fact. There are large number of Inter and Intra state domestic workers, who face problems with  illegal recruitment agents, non- compliance with contract terms, and physical abuse at the hands of their employers. Far from their own kith and kin, in an alien environment with little knowledge of the language and customs, compounds their misery.