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Home and away: On rumours and fake news about migrant workers in TN

Migrant-workers must feel safe and as integral part of the community

The rumours and fake news about migrant workers in Tamil Nadu being attacked have seen the quick intervention of the authorities, assuring the workers of their safety. Many workers, most from Bihar, have been seen at railway stations waiting to leave for their home State after a video clip of violence between two groups of migrant workers was interpreted as an attack on migrant workers by locals. In any case, some of the workers were planning to be home for Holi festivities. Even before the problem could snowball , Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin did well to contact his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar. There has been quick follow-up elsewhere too. The Tamil Nadu police filed cases against those spreading rumours, which included the editor of the Dainik Bhaskar, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. A person has been arrested in Jamui district of Bihar for sharing a misleading video clip. The Bihar police have also found some videos and news reports to be misleading and fake. Officials from Bihar and Jharkhand have visited the migrant hubs of Coimbatore and Tiruppur, and industry representatives are doing their bit to reassure the workers.

The issue has, unfortunately , paved the way for chauvinistic politics in Tamil Nadu and Bihar. The role that migrant workers play in different fields of economic activity in Tamil Nadu, particularly real estate, is well known. According to CREDAI Tamil Nadu, the migrant community oversees 85% of the work in big projects and 70% in medium-scale projects. It also has a visible presence in manufacturing, textiles, construction, and hospitality . A Tamil Nadu Labour Department survey in 2015 estimated that the State had around 11.5 lakh migrant workers. The episode has only highlighted the need for politicians to exercise caution and restraint when commenting on issues regarding migrant workers. Under-the-garb of protecting the interests of local people, many leaders have often denigrated migrant workers or held them responsible for problems such as locals facing unemployment. The message, as Mr. Stalin highlighted in his conversation with Mr. Nitish Kumar, that workers “who help in the State’s development are our workers”, should be internalised by all political parties across the spectrum . At the same time, the government, which has been rolling-out welfare measures for the community, should include the supply of pulses and edible oil at concessional rates under the Public Distribution System, supplementing what is being given under the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme. An exclusive wing can be formed to address the issues and problems migrants face. The government can also institute a fresh and comprehensive study of migrant workers and help in their integration with the local community, to make them feel at home.

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Address (verb) – tackle, see to, deal with, confront, grapple withसुलझाना, निपटाना

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Edible
(adjective) –safe to eat, fit to, eatable, fit to be eaten खाद्य/खानेयोग्य

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Oversee
(verb) – supervise, superintend, inspect, administer,

देखरेख करना

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Reassure (verb) – Assure, Comfort, Encourage, Soothe, Calm, Restore confidence,

  पुनः आश्वस्त करना

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Estimate
(verb) – evaluate, judge, assess, calculate, gauge

अनुमान करना

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Institute (verb) – introduce, found, start, inaugurate, establish

स्थापित करना

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Counterpart
(noun) – equivalent, peer, equal, parallel

समकक्ष

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Comprehensive
(adjective) – inclusive, all-inclusive, complete

विस्तृत

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Elsewhere
(adverb) – somewhere else, at another place, in another place

और कहीं

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Caution
(noun) – Carefulness, thoughtfulness, attentiveness, attention, care, restraint

सावधानी

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Intervention
(noun) – involvement, intercession, interceding, interposing

हस्तक्षेप

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Restraint
(noun) – Self-control, control, self-possession, self-discipline

संयम

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Wing
(noun) –group, branch, arm, faction

शाखा

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Follow
up (phrasal verb) – to take further action connected with it

किसी काम को जारी रखना

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Episode
(noun) – incident, event, occurrence, happening, occasion

घटना

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Highlight
(verb) – emphasize, underscore, stress, accentuate, spotlight
ज़ोर देना

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Integration
(noun) – the action or process of successfully joining or mixing with a different group of people

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Exercise
(verb) – use, employ, make use of, utilize, avail oneself of

प्रयोग करना

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Representative
(noun) – Delegate, spokesperson, agent

प्रतिनिधि

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Rumour
(noun) –doubtful truth; circulating story, gossip

अफवाह

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Migrant worker
(noun) – a person who moves to another country or area in order to find employment, in particular seasonal or temporary work.

प्रवासी कर्मचारी

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Integral
(adjective) –entire, intact, essential, complete, full

अभिन्न

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Assure
(verb) – Ensure, guarantee, confirm, secure, substantiate

आश्वस्त करना

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Interpret
(verb) – understand, construe, take to mean

समझ लेना

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Snowball
(verb) –  Increase rapidly; intensity, magnify, escalate

तेज़ी से अधिकाधिक बढ़ना

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Misleading
(adjective) – deceptive, false, fallacious, deceiving, specious

भ्रामक

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Hub
(noun) – the effective centre of an activity

केंद्र

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Do one’s bit
(phrase) – make a useful contribution to an effort or cause.

अपना फर्ज अदा करना/ प्रयास करना

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Unfortunately
(adverb) – Sadly, regrettably, unhappily, woefully

दुर्भाग्य से

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Pave
the way for (phrase) – create situation that allows something to happen.

के लिए मार्ग प्रशस्त करना

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Chauvinistic
(adjective) – somebody with an excessive or prejudiced loyalty to a particular gender, group, or cause

अंधराष्ट्रीय

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Hospitality
(noun) – the activity or business of providing services to guests in hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.

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Under the garb of
(phrase) – in the name of, for the sake of

की आड़ में

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Denigrate
(verb) – criticize unfairly; disparage.

बदनाम करना

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Internalise
(verb) –incorporate within oneself

सम्मिलित करना

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Spectrum
(noun) – Range, Field, Gamut, Variety, Scale

विस्तार, रेंज

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Roll out
(phrasal verb) – Officially launch or introduce a new product or scheme

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Concessional
(adjective) – Discounted, reduced, lower

रिआयती

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Public distribution system
(noun) – a system of management of scarcity through distribution of foodgrains at affordable prices

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Supplement
(verb) – add an extra element or amount to.

जोड़ देना, पूरा करना

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Make someone feel at home
(phrase) – feel relaxed and comfortable