Migrant women workers in Bengaluru struggle with climate challenges and basic needs
Rekha, a construction worker from Amruthahalli, deals with unbearable heat by pouring water over her sheet-roofed hut during hot summer nights. “It’s hot in our village too, but there are trees and wind to cool us down. Here, there are only skyscrapers,” said the woman from Yadgir. Similarly, Yellamma, a resident of the Uttarahalli community for 15 years, often clears sewage mixed with rainwater flooding her house during heavy rains. Meanwhile, Mahadevamma struggles to cook after rain dampens her firewood.
These are the everyday challenges faced by Bengaluru’s migrant women workers. Many of their husbands sleep outside, exposed to diseases from mosquitoes and snake bites. Migrant workers, who make up about 20% of the city’s population, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, constantly balancing survival with dignity.
On Friday, at an event called ‘Voices of the Voiceless’, workers from different communities presented their stories, representing Bengaluru’s 30 lakh migrant workers. The event, organized by Jan Sahas Foundation and BBMP’s Climate Action Cell, highlighted how climate change intersects with the lives of migrant workers who remain invisible in the city’s development. Kariyappa, a migrant from a farming community, shared that without rain, their agricultural jobs become uncertain, which led them to Bengaluru in search of stable employment. “We built this city, but we don’t even have basic facilities,” he said.
Ravi, from the Hoodi railway station community, emphasized the lack of safe sanitation spaces for women and girls. Other migrant workers like Shivamma, Anumesh, and Ibrahim also shared their struggles.
Deputy Labour Commissioner AH Umesh addressed these concerns, highlighting government schemes like the 1% cess on construction costs that provides workers with pensions and insurance. A detailed vulnerability map will be created to address the basic needs of migrant workers living on the fringes of Bengaluru.
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