Life Skills and Leadership Training by KISMAT Karnataka

Karnataka Interstate Migrants Alliance for Transformation (KISMAT, a project of BREADS) conducted a Life Skills and Leadership Training for leaders of Migrant communities at Don Bosco BREADS’ Education & Skill Training (DB BEST) Academy, Bangalore on 12 March 2023.

The programme started with a prayer song, lighting of the lamp, followed by the welcome address. A presentation was given on the support and services extended by KISMAT to the participants. Fr. Rubin Mathew (Executive Director, BREADS Bangalore) and Fr. Deepu Mathew (Assistant Director, BREADS) also graced the occasion with their presence.

The resource speaker for the day was Mr. Vasantkumar N Hittanagi (Retd Joint Labour Commissioner and CEO of Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Government of Karnataka), who spoke about life skills and leadership for the migrant leaders from 9 different communities. They were residents of northern districts of Karnataka—-Kalaburagi, Yadagiri and Raichur who are employed in Bangalore as daily casual labourers and construction workers. 

The purpose of the programme was to train leaders of migrant communities to act as catalysts in their respective communities, taking the lead to prevent problems faced by migrants and sustaining themselves to fight for their rights. The session also dealt with the explanation of government schemes for migrant workers: mobile hospital facilities, pension schemes, education schemes for children, educational scholarships, accidental policies, emergency aid, free tool kits, different insurance benefits, travel benefits, benefits for marriages, etc. The possibilities for legal aid were also discussed. At the end of the session, participants clarified their doubts and shared problems faced at their worksites. Different possibilities to find solutions to the problems were discussed and decided upon.