Migrants

Millions of people have moved from their native places due to wars, natural calamities, violence, and unemployment in search of livelihood, as well as for children’s education.Likewise,thousands of people from northern states of India,have migrated to the south in search of better job opportunities, better education facilities and found employment as IT professionals, industrialists, domestic workers, constructors of buildings/bridges and daily wagers.Such migrant workers are found in the southern states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, AndhraPradesh, and Telangana.The daily wage migrant workers are often treated harshly and denied proper income, shelter and even healthcare.

Jesuit Migrants Service (JMS) act as a bridge between migrants and the Government for several years and has helped the migrants gain access to education, shelter and health. In this regard,the sisters of the FMM community collaborate with the Jesuit fathers who are engaged in serving migrants in various districts of Tamil Naduto serve the migrants in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur districts. A good number of young migrants and their familiesresiding in various units across Chennai region have been identified. We aim to volunteer to enhance the living conditions of these migrants.

To celebrate Christmas and commemorate World Migrants’ Day on 18th December, JMS arranged a Christmas programme at Karunalayam, Blessed Sacrament Seminary campus, Velappanchavadi, Chennai on 13 December 2020. More than 173 migrant workers and their families participated in the programme. Majority of the participants were from Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odissa. They are presently staying in and around Ambattur and Avadi.

Launched on 27.10.2020, in collaboration with NIMHANS, Bangalore, a one-day capacity-building programme is organised every month to empower transgender community members address psychological challenges experienced in their day-to-day living. Thirty transgenders enrolled in this training programme