UNDP Assisted Migration Information Centre

Background

Estimated 70% villagers migrate every year from Jhadol Block of Udaipur District in Rajasthan to near by State Gujarat. Inter-state labour migration is an important feature of the Indian economy, mostly from the most populous and poorest states. Very often, migration occurs among the poor, semi-literate, illiterate, and landless. Migration is an important process of change or development for rural populations. Migration is the movement of people from the place of their origin to another place for social, economic and cultural reasons. Safe Migration is a right of an individual which cannot be denied or curtailed, unless proven harmful to others.


Geographical area

The project area is remote part of southern Rajasthan bordering Gujarat. Project community consists of scheduled Tribe families, who are living in isolation facing extreme vulnerability. It is part of agro-climatic zone humid to semi arid having average precipitation of 670 mm (late June to mid September). Agriculture, agriculture labour, other allied activities, MFP (Minor Forest Produce) collection are major occupations for poor communities in this region. Limited land under cultivation providing limited work opportunities (unemployment) causing migration to urban regions of Gujarat.

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Coverage area

268 villages of 45 Gram Panchayats in Jhadol block of Udaipur district located within 40 km radius from Panarwa Office of Mahan Seva Sansthan and 70 Km from Udaipur.

Beneficiaries

Direct Beneficiaries were 5915 migrants of forty five villages. The indirect beneficiaries were the entire community. Community based organizations (CBOs), PRIs, teachers, government health workers and community as a whole had been benefited in terms of increased awareness and sensitization on HIV/AIDS and related issues.

Time Period

May 2009 to October 2010

Supporting agency

United Nation Development Programme (UNDP)

Goal

The goal of this project was to reduce HIV and other vulnerabilities of migrants, their families and communities.

Objective

  • To make migration more informed and safer thus lowering the rates of transmission of HIV to and from this group.
  • Increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS among women to help them make informed decisions for negotiating safe sex, thus reducing the spread of the epidemic to the population at large.

Strategy

  • Set up information and activity hubs primarily for migrants at select high migration areas in source communities, transit points and destination locales
  • Use of ICT tools (computer, printer, scanner, webcam, etc.) as a medium of dissemination of standardized information to migrants and their communities

Activities

  • Established Migration Information Center (MIC)
  • Organized meetings with community people
  • Organized camps for migrants on HIV/AIDS awareness
  • Organized training and workshops for migrants on HIV/AIDS
  • HIV sensitization meetings hold for women SHGs having members from migrant families
  • Counseling and referral slips given to visitors
  • Organized wall writing for HIV/AIDS awareness
  • Distributed condoms in free of cost
  • Organized foot march at villages
  • Sensitized new PRI representatives on HIV/AIDS

Outcome

  • Increase awareness in community people through 72 community meetings and information camps
  • Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS has reduced
  • 21 HIV-AIDS Trainings/Camps/Workshops conducted for 621 migrants through mobile camps
  • 113 HIV sensitisation meetings held for women SHGs having members from migrant families
  • Increased referral and follow up through distributing of 326 referral slips to visitors of MIC