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This paper is an empirical study of the consequences of the prolonged closure of schools and other educational institutions for adolescent tribal girls, migrating to the construction sector of Surat in search of work. It attempts to argue that, unlike financial hardship, disruption in education induced by the pandemic brought them to the informal labour market where the entry-level age group is now much younger, exacerbating their existing vulnerabilities.
Non-compliance with labour laws by employers and the absence of any rigorous monitoring mechanism leave the migrant workers in Surat’s power looms vulnerable to exploitation and without any cushion to fall back on in times of emergencies such as the pandemic still raging. Surendra is in his mid forties. The cuticles of his fingers have turned black from the thick machine oil that he has worked with regularly for decades.
A positive ecosystem must be created that motivates migrant workers to get vaccinated. “My friend has been sick for the past four days after taking the vaccine. A relative in our village is sick, too. How can I trust this vaccine?” Naveen (name changed) was upfront about his hesitancy when asked about getting the vaccine. He came to Surat from Odisha’s Ganjam district when he was just 19 and has been working in the city’s powerloom sector for over 20 years.
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