Protect Every Migrant Worker
The killing of two migrant labourers in Kulgam is not only a brutal act of terror but also an assault on the dignity of honest work and the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir. These men had travelled far from their homes to earn a livelihood, support their families and contribute to the local economy. Their deaths demand grief and compassion, but they also demand firm accountability.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s condemnation of the killings and his announcement of ₹10 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the next of kin are welcome and necessary. This assistance will be in addition to the ₹6 lakh immediate relief being provided by the District Administration, taking the total support to ₹16 lakh for each bereaved family. No amount of money can replace a husband, father, son or earning member. Compensation cannot erase trauma or repair a family’s emotional loss. It can, however, provide immediate financial protection to dependents who may suddenly be left without income. The Government must therefore ensure that the full amount reaches the families promptly and without forcing them through complicated paperwork or repeated visits to offices. The administration’s duty cannot end with the issue of a sanction order. Officers should remain in direct contact with the families, help complete the required formalities and coordinate with the authorities in the victims’ home state. Transportation, documentation, insurance claims, educational needs and access to welfare schemes should be handled with dignity and urgency. Migrant workers form an important part of Jammu and Kashmir’s economic life. They work in agriculture, construction, transport, industry and several essential services. Most live modestly and accept difficult working conditions because their families depend on their earnings. Targeting them is a calculated attempt to spread fear, damage trust and disturb economic activity. The message from the Government and society must be unmistakable. Every peaceful worker, regardless of where he comes from, has the right to live and earn in Jammu and Kashmir without fear. There can be no compromise on that right, and no space should be allowed for those who seek to divide people through violence. Security agencies must identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. At the same time, the Government must review protection arrangements in areas where migrant workers are concentrated or where threats have previously been reported. This review should not create panic or turn workers into objects of suspicion. It should provide practical protection through responsive policing, emergency contact systems, safer accommodation and regular engagement with employers and labour groups. The Labour Department, police, district administrations and employers should establish a coordinated mechanism to support migrant workers while respecting their privacy and freedom. Verified helplines, rapid response teams and designated nodal officers could ensure that threats or emergencies are reported and addressed without delay. Financial relief must also be followed by long-term rehabilitation. If a deceased worker was the family’s principal earning member, the loss may affect the education of children, healthcare of elderly parents and daily survival of dependants. The Government should consider educational assistance, livelihood support, counselling and access to social security schemes rather than relying solely on a one-time payment. The Chief Minister’s response reflects compassion, but the real strength of governance will be measured by the speed of relief, certainty of justice and seriousness of prevention. Announcements must become assistance, investigations must lead to accountability, and security reviews must result in visible protection.
Terror seeks to isolate communities and turn ordinary livelihoods into sources of fear. The answer must combine uncompromising action against the killers with humane support for the victims. Jammu and Kashmir must remain a place where every worker can earn with dignity and return home safely. Protecting migrant labourers is not an act of charity. It is a constitutional duty and a test of our collective humanity. Further, the Government must move beyond compensation by ensuring swift justice, stronger protection for migrant workers, direct family rehabilitation, educational support for children and reliable livelihood assistance for dependents. Security, labour and district authorities should coordinate permanently, because every worker’s safety is a constitutional duty, not a temporary response measure.
